November 12, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Taiwo Agbaje will face Tanzania’s Loren Japhet in a WBF featherweight world title fight on December 7 at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.
WBF President Howard Goldberg has confirmed he will attend the event, cancelling a planned trip to Las Vegas to be present.
Goldberg expressed his excitement in a video message, highlighting the significance of the fight.
The South African boxing chief also arranged for a top WBF referee from Europe to officiate the contest, emphasising the importance of the event, which is dubbed the ‘Simplified Rumble in Rivers for Champions.’
Promoter Emmanuel Emenogu of Zeus Sports and Entertainment announced a venue change from the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Centre to the larger Yakubu Gowon Stadium to accommodate the expected crowd.
The main event features undefeated Nigerian prospect Agbaje (16-0, 11KOs) against the experienced Japhet (18-7-3, 4KOs) in a 12-round contest for the vacant WBF featherweight world title.
The card also marks the return of former world heavyweight title contender Ike ‘The President’ Ibeabuchi, who faces Egypt’s Sammy Abdalla after serving 20 years in a U.S. prison.
Additional bouts include former WBC Super Featherweight Silver Champion Elizabeth Oshoba against Egypt’s Hargar Mohammed, and ex-WBO International light middleweight champion King Davidson against Egyptian Ayman Mohammed.
The event has garnered strong local support, with the Amanyanagbo of the Okochiri kingdom, King Ateke Tom, taking on the role of patron. Several notable figures, including football legends Finidi George and Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, as well as entertainers Flavour and Burna Boy, are expected to attend.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
