19.09.06 – by Sesan Olukoya: Bashiru Ali Lawrence, the Nigerian born boxer of repute and a world boxing legend in his own right who has done well in the world of boxing as the only boxer around the world who has won every cruiserweight title conceivable, has never been knocked out, who never boxed as an amateur and who also has the best record in the cruiserweight category has now set his eyes on breaking the Guinness Book of World Record..
Bash, the World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion and title holder will be slugging slug it out with Jim Strohl of USA who currently holds the WBF super cruiserweight champion and title. Jim Has never lost at cruiserweight too and has ended 10 out of his 21KO’s victories in the first round. So it will be tour de force when the duo of Bash Ali and Jim Strohl eventual meet in Nigeria come October 1st 2006 for the much awaited fight of the millennium.
Going down History lane, on Saturday November 5 1994, George Foreman (USA) in a boxing ring in Las Vegas, USA threw a perfect straight right hand to the chin of International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Michael Moorer and put his name in the Guinness World Records Book as the oldest Boxer to win a world title. George Foreman was 45 years old then. On Saturday July 4, 1998, Joe Bugner (Australian) in a boxing ring in Australia won the world Boxing Federation title when James Bonecrusher Smith (USA) refused to come for the 2nd round of the championship bout. Joe Bugner was 48 years old and 110days then and he is the current oldest boxer to win a world title in the Guinness World Record Book.
Bash Ali was born in Lagos, Nigeria on the 27th February 1956. He started his sporting career in his teen years and he was very good at it too then according to research. He branded himself as the as the strongest school boy in the world and he was undefeated as a wrestler. He attended Birch Freeman High School in Lagos Nigeria. He graduated in June 1974 and went to the USA on a wrestling scholarship from Mildred Burke Professional School of Wrestling in September 1974.
”I never wrestled in the USA because the sport is exhibition, so I changed to boxing and also I never boxed as an amateur because there is no fun in getting beat up for nothing” explained Bash during an interview session.. Bash started his career by training for six months and had his first professional bout on June 1, 1978 in Sacramento, California and that was the genesis of his boxing career that has lasted for over more than four decades.
Since then Bash Ali a household name in Nigeria, the African continent and the around the world of boxing in particular has dealt with friends and foes alike in the boxing world and this has earned him money, encomiums, good reputation, laurels and awards. Bash is 50 years old now and according to him: “I am at the ripe age of 50 years to erase Joe Bugner’s name from the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest man to win a world title.
A provisional approval has been issued by the World Championship Committee for the world Championship bout between Bash Ali, (Nigerian) and Jim Strohl (USA). The International Boxing Union has also approved the fight and is putting on line a genuine 14k Gold Championship belt for the winner.
A victory for Bash Ali at 50 years would place him in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest boxer to win a world title. “I am 50 and at the ripe age to erase Joe Bugner’s name from the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest man to win a world title”, boasted Bash Ali.
“Jim Strohl has accepted to defend his title against Bash in Nigeria if the purse can be guaranteed. Bash will like this one time opportunity and epic event to hold in Nigeria his country among his people where and when he will be cheered to victory. “Nigeria is my country and I love her with all my heart. No other people or government in this world would help me to accomplish my goal by promoting this fight in order for me to put Nigeria’s name in the Guinness Book of World Records but Nigerians and the government of the day” explained Bash Ali.
So far so good, we wish Bash Ali all the best in his endeavour to shock the world by defeating younger and more energetic Jim “Iron Chin” Strohl so as to inscribe his name in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest man to win a world title. To write to Bash Ali, send your letter to: bashali_ngr@yahoo.com.