Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday, lauded the achievements of a former heavyweight boxing champion, Evander Holyfield, describing him as the greatest living boxer of all times and a role model.
The five-time world cruiserweight and the heavyweight champion is in Lagos for an exhibition bout, which is part of activities marking the state’s Golden Jubilee anniversary.
He is billed to fight former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at Lagos House in Ikeja when he received Holyfield on courtesy visit, said he was proud of the achievements of the legend in the boxing field, and described him as a great role model.
The Governor, who described the visit of the boxing legend to Lagos as historic, said there was no better way to showcase sports as a catalyst for growth than the collaboration of such an icon as Holyfield.
“This is an exciting and historic moment for us coming at a time Lagos is celebrating the 50 years of its establishment and we want to say a big thank you to Holyfield for collaborating with us to put this as part of events marking the Golden Jubilee anniversary of Lagos State.
“We believe strongly that in all sectors that we have tried to celebrate Lagos, this is one momentous topic that we really mean to celebrate. As a government, we have always wanted to use sports as a way of driving our economy and there is no way we can showcase sports as the catalyst for economic growth than bringing somebody who is a champion; a revered person and for him to use his God-given talent and resources to promote sports in our State,” he said.
Ambode praised the vision of the Evander Holyfield Foundation to nurture young stars and future boxers, as well as the issues relating to the promotion of health and wellbeing of the people. He pledged to partner with the foundation to ensure that the set objectives are achieved, especially with regards to the people of the State.
Holyfield, a five-time world cruiserweight, and heavyweight-boxing champion arrived in the country on Wednesday ahead of his bout with former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The exhibition-boxing match is part of activities marking the Golden Jubilee anniversary of Lagos State.
Speaking during a courtesy call on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Holyfield announced a donation of health equipment worth $3m to the Lagos State government, saying the donation was part of his plans to also give back to the society through his foundation.
The 54-year-old recalled how he started boxing at the young age of 8 and became champion at 9, Holyfield said he felt like quitting after initially suffering defeats but his mother told him to hang on.