Bash Ali guns for Guinness Book of World Records
Title Fight Project

Abuja – No fewer than 200 companies have turned
down proposals for the sponsorship of Bash Ali’s
“Guinness Book of World Record’’ title fight.
Bala Ka’oje, Chairman of the Local Organising
Committee (LOC) of the fight, disclosed in an
interview in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that the development was a major setback
for the staging of the fight.

“From what I can see, the hope of this fight taking
place is very slim because we have written and
followed up letters in a number of places.
“More than 200 letters have been sent to both
government and private organisations, but we have
not gotten any serious response. I don’t know why
people are not convinced.

“I know that Bash can fight this fight and perhaps
win it; it will also be a history making for him and
the country. But others might not see it that way.
“We are still praying that God will touch the minds
of Nigerians both in government and private sector
to come and support the project.

“This will enable the LOC meet with the objective
for which it was set-up,’’ Ka’oje said.
Ka’oje, who was former Minister of Sports, also
told NAN that Bank of Industry (BoI) gave a false
hope to the project.

“I don’t know the arrangement Bash has with Bank
of Industry (BoI).
“All I know is that we wrote them a letter but we
never got a reply from the bank, from my
investigation I found out that they actually do not
have money to fund sports.

“They are supposed to fund Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) according to the act that
established them; there is no provision in their act
to fund sports.

“However, the LOC is crawling,’’ Ka’oje added.
He noted that the condition given by the
International Boxing Union (IBU), which mandated
the LOC to pay $29 million before the fight could
be stage, was discouraging.

According to Ka’oje, the complaint to the IBU on
its tough charges necessitated the change of date
for fight on several occasions.
He pointed out that no boxer even in America
would remain in business after meeting such
conditions of the IBU.

The 58-year-old Bash Ali was scheduled to fight
32-year-old IBU champion, Rick Camling of
America. (NAN)

58 years old versus 32 years old? Bad business. Very bad.

Lesson:
Quit when the ovation is loudest otherwise you'll become an item of scorn and ridicule

They don't want to answer murder case that old man should go and sit down somewhere in his village ......imagine if they sponsor d fight and d old man collapse inside d ring after a K O punch who will be hold responsible?