Lasisi aims to ‘clean’ sweep Jimenez at Caesars Bluewaters
Amir Naqvi
A seasoned journalist covering major sports events around the world. Amir is Sports Editor with Gulf Today.
Aliu Bamidele Lasisi is oozing with so much confidence ahead of his WBC International super-flyweight title defence – that he isn’t putting much emphasis on studying his dangerous opponent, Norbelto Jimenez.
He landed in Dubai in the year 2014 after leaving his home city Lagos, Nigeria, with bright dreams of providing a better life for his family.
Unsure of what destiny had in store, the 29-year-old started working as a cleaner at Ahmed A Seddiqi’s Round 10 boxing club in Dubai.
From mopping gym floors and training after finishing the job, Lasisi became WBC International super-flyweight champion in April 2019.
He defeated Ricardo Blandon to win the vacant WBC International super-flyweight title last year.
Lasisi (14-0, 8 KOs) won the WBC International belt last April with a unanimous decision over Nicaraguan veteran Ricardo Blandon. He last fought in December in Kazakhstan, silencing Hamson Lamandau over eight rounds.
This Friday, Lasisi seeks to add another glowing chapter to his remarkable success story from poverty as the Nigerian headlines the massive Rotunda Rumble 3 to be held at Caesars Bluewaters in Dubai.
The unbeaten Lasisi (14-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBC International super-flyweight title for the second time against former world title challenger Norbelto Jimenez (29-9-4, 16 KOs) in the main event presented by D4G Promotions in association with MTK Global, and live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank and worldwide on IFL TV.
“I moved to Dubai in June 2014 and found my way to Round 10 boxing gym. After work, I go to the gym at night, and after a few months I worked as a cleaner in the gym while I continued my training,” said Lasisi.
“I am really grateful for Ahmed Seddiqi because he helped me become a professional fighter. I want to thank him for believing in me. I really appreciate the all-out support that he’s been giving me since day one,” he added.
The fight against Dominican Republic native Jimenez will be a tough one for Lasisi.
Jiminez is equally as determined to get back on track after a unanimous decision loss to British star Khalid Yafai for the WBA world super-flyweight crown last year, but Lasisi is eager to impress.
Emerging as one of Dubai’s big boxing success stories, the lad from Lagos is oozing with confidence ahead of the bout.
“He Norbelto (Jimenez) is a good boxer. But for me, I have to fight a good fighter so that I can become a world champion. I don’t know much about him but I know much about myself.
“I believe in my hard work, I believe in my training in the camp, and I’ll be doing my best for this fight,” said Lasisi.
Targeting the world title, the Nigerian star said: “I’m hoping to get a world title shot if I get to win this fight. I think this fight will be a good challenge for me and hopefully I’ll get a chance to fight for a world title soon.
“I’m very excited. I’m very happy to get another opportunity to fight here in Dubai because it’s been a while since I last fought here and I’m training in Kazakhstan. This is a sort of homecoming for me. I’m hoping to get support from everyone.
“I am feeling good in the camp with my trainer Morovan Viorel as I prepare to defend my WBC title here in Dubai. The fans are excited to watch me live again here and I am looking forward to putting on a show.”
Along from Lasisi, some of boxing’s household names will be in action, such as former world champion TJ Doheny, Irish boxers Steve Collins Jr. and Rohan Date, Aussie star Cesar Mateo Tapia, fast-rising Emirati prospect Sultan Al Nuaimi and many more.
Meanwhile, just four months into his budding professional boxing career, Indian star Faizan Anwar is buzzing with excitement ahead of the bout against Ghanaian Gideon Agbosu (12-4, 10 KOs).
After all, fighting under the bright lights—and on a global platform—will be something new for the Kolkata-born welterweight starlet, who set his pro career in motion in Thailand last December and picked up his second victory at the Round 10 Boxing Club in Dubai last month.
Anwar said: “It’s a surprise for me. Just last December, I transitioned as a pro. Within four months, I’ve got a big opportunity to perform in a big stage to show off my skills.
“I’m very excited because it’s a big honour for me. It’s unbelievable and unexpectable that at this young age, I’ll be able to perform on a big platform and share the stage with big names.
“He (Gideon Agbosu) is very strong. He has good head movement. My strategy is to go for the body shot and angle punches and upper hooks.”
