Nobody can predict what the future holds. It’s interesting to observe how people come to have the relationships, careers, and lifestyles that they do.
The ability to perfect boxing demands a lot of practice, training, strength, and confidence.
Let’s examine 5 famous Nigerians who gave up boxing to work in the entertainment industry;
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Burna Boy
Burna Boy, a popular singer from Nigeria, began his career as a boxer before switching to music.
Burna Boy admitted that he was already practicing boxing before he started making music during a Zoom conversation with Israel Adesanya, a renowned mixed martial artist who was born in New Zealand but is Nigerian-born.
Martins Imhangbe
Hollywood actor Martins Imhangbe, who was born in Nigeria, is well known for his work on the television series In the past, Bridgerton has competed in boxing. Martins, who portrayed boxer Will Mondrich on the TV drama, admitted that he had to unlearn everything he knew about the sport to fit the part. Martins described his boxing training and preparation for this job as follows:
Three to four times a week, I exercised with a personal trainer, and a large portion of our workouts involved strength and conditioning. We did a lot of boxing, and since the sport was different then than it is now, I had to abandon all I had learned about it and adopt this traditional form of the sport.
Hassan Taiwo
Another famous person who used to box and still does so occasionally is Taiwo Hassan, well known in Nollywood as Ogogo. In an interview with Punch News, Taiwo disclosed:
I’ve been told I appear young while being close to 60 years old, and boxing is the key to having this figure. I still box at home to stay in shape because I used to be a boxer.
Willie XO
Willie XO, a Nigerian musician, known for songs such as Comfort You and Kraze, revealed in an interview with the Saturday Tribune that he used to fight in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Willie stated:
Before I got into music and signed with SBMG (Silent Billionaires Music Group), not many people knew I was a UFC fan. I had been into music for too long, and it wasn’t hitting the right notes for me, so I turned to UFC. I told my brother and parents, and my mother was concerned that I would be knocked out if I entered the UFC. I wasn’t concerned about that, but I was thinking about knocking people out, making money, and then returning to music because it is my passion.
I was supposed to have my first fight last year, but everything changed when I got a phone call saying that some people from SBMG wanted to sign me.
John Okafor
Last but not least, Mr. Ibu, a Nigerian comedian, was once a boxer. His real name is John Okafor. In an interview with Premium Times, Mr. Ibu talked openly about his time as a boxer and the reasons he stopped. Mr. Ibu declared
I’ve once been a boxer. Up until I traveled to Delta State for a championship, my boxing career was going well. I was so seriously hurt in the battle that I wasn’t even recognizable when it was over. The punches he unleashed at me nearly cost me an eye. I stopped boxing as a result of that occurrence.