Bash Ali: "THE SUICIDE MISSION"

By Ike Enwereuzor and Ralph George

13.11.01 - THE FORMER WBF CRUISER WEIGHT CHAMPION BASH ALI from NIGERIA HAS BEGUN PREPARATIONS FOR THE WORLD TITLE FIGHT AGAINST VIRGIL HILL OF AMERICA ON MARCH 30TH NEXT YEAR. THE SELF ACCLAIMED WORLD OLDEST FIGHTER AT 54 WILL ON THE 17TH OF NOVEMBER TAKE ON THE UNDEFEATED AFRICAN CRUISER WEIGHT CHAMPION SAMSON AJAYI (26-0 24 KO) IN A TEN ROUND NON TITLE FIGHT TO KEEP IN SHAPE FOR THE TITLE SHOWDOWN COMING UP NEXT YEAR MARCH IN ABUJA-NIGERIA. THE FIGHT IS TAGGED 'SUICIDE MISSION', ACCORDING TO BASH "IT IS SUICIDE MISSION FOR AJAYI TRYING TO FIGHT ME, HE CLAIM'S I AM AN OLD MAN, HE IS TALLER THAN ME, HE IS BIGGER THAN ME, HE HAS THE REACH, SUICIDE MISSION FOR HIM, ONLY ONE MAN WILL SURVIVE, HE IS GOING TO BITE THE DUST ".

"I HOPE HE DOES NOT CHICKEN OUT OF THIS FIGHT, THAT IS THE REASON I AM PAYING HIM ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND NAIRA, THE BIGGEST PAYDAY IN HIS BOXING CARREER, JOE LASISI ONCE DID THE SAME, HE COLLECTED SOME MONEY FROM ME AND REFUSED TO FIGHT"

THE BEST AJAYI HAD, HAD IS TEN THOUSAND NAIRA" THE FIGHT IS COMING UP UNDER THE AUSPICIES OF JOY UNLIMITED PROMOTIONS OWNED BY BASH ALI. THE FORMER WBA INTERNATIONAL CRUISER WEIGHT CHAMPION HAS PROMOTED MANY FIGHTS UNDER THE PROMOTION OUTFIT, THE LAST BEING THE WORLD TITLE FIGHT IN WHICH HE BEATTERRY RAY OF AMERICA TO WIN THE CRUISER WEIGHT WORLD TITLE LAST YEAR.

"I AM THE RESURRECTOR OF BOXING, THE JESUS CHRIST OF BOXING IN NIGERIA, WITHOUT ME THERE IS NO BOXING IN THE COUNTRY."

THOUGH MANY NIGERIANS DO NOT BELIEVE IN BASH ALI, MOST BELIEVE HE IS FAKE. THE FIGHT AGAINST RAY WAS SEVERALLY POSTPONED MAKING MOST NIGERIANS TO DISBELIEVE WHAT EVER HE IS UP TO, REPORTS AFTER THE FIGHT HAD IT THAT BASH DID NOT PAY RAY HIS AGREED PURSE AND THE 'WBF' THREATHENED TO TAKE THE TITLE AWAY FROM HIM, BASH IN A RATHER DISSAPPOINTING MANNER FORGED THE SIGNATURE OF THE NIGERIAN SPORTS MINISTER IN A LETTER HE SENT TO THE 'WBF' AND IT CAUSED SO MUCH UPROAR IN THE COUNTRY.

EVEN THE LOCAL PRESS DO NOT BELIEVE IN HIM, MANY SHUN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN EVER HE CALLS FOR ONE, THEY BELIEVE HE DOES NOT PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS AND MOST TIMES LEADS THEM TO MISINFORM THE PUBLIC. INFACT LAUGHTER GREETED THE SCENE DURING THE PRESS BRIEFING WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HE WILL BE FIGHTING HILL, THE MAN WHO ONCE STOPPED JOE LASISI FROM WEARING THEWORLD LIGHT HEAVY WEIGHT TITLE.

BASH ALI SWEATS IT OUT DAILY AT THE NATIONAL STADIUMLAGOS GYM WHILE AJAYI THE OPPONENT IN THE NOVEMBER 17TH FIGHT HAS BEEN OUT OF SIGHT, TRAINING IN IBADAN. THE LIST OF THE UNDER CARDS FOR THE FIGHT WILL BE MADE KNOWN ON WEDNESDAY. BASH SAYS ABOUT 5 BOUTS ARE UP ON THE NIGHT OF SUICIDE MISSION.

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