We’re not inferior to men – Female boxers

Female middleweight boxers, Sofiat Lateef and Abosede Akinsanya, who are billed to fight each other at GOtv Boxing Night 27 on 26 December, have declared that they are as good as their male counterparts and are ready to prove it.

The fight between Lateef and Akinsanya is the only all-female duel scheduled for the event, which will be held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

In separate interviews yesterday, Sofiat and Abosede, expressed gratitude to the sponsors for including an all-female bout on the card.

“I’m happy that we have been considered to fight. Boxing promoters in the country have tended to view female boxers as inferior to male and are reluctant to give us bouts. We are not inferior to men and we will show that at GOtv Boxing Night 27,” Sofiat said.

Abosede equally thanked the sponsors and promoters, Flykite Productions, for the opportunity, saying it was something for which many female boxers have waited for long.

“I’m delighted to see this happen. I have sparred with men and I do not see any difference between us. We can do as well as the men, if not better,” she said.

GOtv Boxing Night 27 will be headlined by the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental title bout between London-based West African Boxing Union (WABU) featherweight champion, Nigeria’s Taiwo “Esepor” Agbaje, and Richard Pumicpic of the Philippines.

It will also feature bouts across weight categories. In the lightweight division, Adeyemi “Spirit” Adekanla will take on Bartholomew Abuchi. The featherweight category will also see a clash between Michael Adesodun and Idris Aloma, while Opeyemi “Golden Boy” Ibrahim and Sodiq “Happy Boy” Adeleke will duel in the bantamweight category. The super featherweight division will see the return of Sikiru