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News
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• Christ Embassy unveils ReachOut Nigeria, Thursday
• Govt sacks residents of Imo parliamentary quarters  
• Constituency delimitation: Ideato leaders reject Rep member
• PTDF targets 70 per cent of Nigeria 's manpower needs
• Money bags blamed for nation's political crisis
• Stop parading yourself as monarch, Daniel warns Ijoko community leader
• Native doctor killed by angry youths 
• Rep member empowers 1,000 Ebonyi youths
• ‘Abscond from duty, lose your job’
• 20 killed in communal clash 
• Human trafficking uncheckable in Nigeria –Monarch
• 1,000 illegal structures demolished
• Commuters poised for war over 'Okada' helmets 
• Women empowerment gets boost
• Educationist wants children of public servants banned from private aschools
• Govt move against fresh outbreak of Bird flu

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• Ejike revels in Paralympic glory
• Cricket: Twenty20 attracts mega deal
• Nigeria for Mind Sports Olympics
• Tennis: Federer feels invincible, once again
• UEFA Champions League:Recent history favours English clubs
•  Taiwo seeks Liverpool revenge with Marseille
• 'Inter to win competition’
• 'Yakubu, Saha will lift Everton’
• Benitez salutes valiant Reds
• Ameobi keen on Newcastle role

Boxing:'Afolabi is the real deal'

By DIPO OKUBANJO

NIGERIAN-BORN US-based professional boxer, Ola Afolabi, is the best thing to happen to the cruiserweight division in recent times, renowned promoter Dino Duva has said.

Duva's comment comes in the wake of the butched fight between Afolabi, who is the North American Boxing Organisation (NABO) champion and BJ Flores.

Flores had turned down Duva Boxing's exceptional offer to fight rising star Ola Afolabi (13-1-3, 5 KOs). The offer included a significant payday, a television date, a shot at Afolabi's title, and a World Boxing Organisation eliminator position.

"Ola Afolabi is the real deal," said Duva. "Ola is destined to become a world champion regardless of whether or not Flores fights him."
He continued:"It's true, I offered BJ Flores his biggest payday in a long time to fight Ola on ShoBox on October 3.
"First he accepted, and then when he was sent the contract, he wouldn't sign it. He obviously got cold feet and that's a real shame because the fight would have been for the NABO title and most likely a WBO eliminator as well."

Speaking on his inability to have a go at Flores, Afolabi described the development as a setback.
"I would love to fight Flores. I was looking forward to fighting him on October 3 and was very disappointed when I heard he didn't sign the contract," said Afolabi. "Just call my promoter Dino Duva and make the fight."
"If BJ can ever get the courage to fight Ola I would be happy to make the same offer, anytime, anywhere,"Duva added.