Izuchukwu OkosiRetired boxing hit Floyd Mayweather has pledged to open a Boxing academy in Nigeria as he arrived in the country in style ahead of the ‘Skies of Dubai’ on Saturday May 14.
Mayweather who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja in his $60 million private jet and met with former Rivers state Governor and Presidential aspirant, Rotimi Amechi is expected to take on Don Moore in an exhibition fight.
The boxer, who is considered the richest in the sport of boxing, is visiting Africa for just the second time after his 2014 trip to South Africa.
The 45-year-old boxer, who is regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter, is in Nigeria to promote his upcoming bout against Moore after coming out of retirement.
The American boxer also came into Nigeria with a convoy of RR wraith, RR Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, 2022 Landcruiser Prado, Mercedes Benz S-class, Mercedes Benz GLE, 2018 Toyota Prado, and Toyota Hilux.
“The ultimate plan is to find the next Mayweather. I want to work with kids; I will come over to meet and talk to make sure we are all on the same page, and slowly start building these fighters. We just want to help,” Mayweather told the All Progressives Congress aspirant Amechi in his Abuja home.
“It’s all about giving back, helping the youths and the young generation coming up. I want to build a boxing camp for the kids. Different American trainers will come over and work with them.
“There are so many talents in the sports world over there in the United States, and Africa is dominating in the US now. There are so many hidden talents, so many skills, so we want the world to see these skills.
“We don’t want it to be hidden, like I was able to display my skills and talents to the world, here I am today. I want to build an academy just for the children to grow.”
In his response, Amechi who is also Nigeria’s Transportation minister commended the former champions fro choosing to establish the academy in Nigeria.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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