On April 26, in Lagos’s Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Raheem “Badoo” Animashaun, champion of the West African Boxing Union, would face off against Jean Coffi, an opponent from Benin, in the main event of GOtv Boxing Night 33.
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The 17-year-old wonder, who made history at GOtv Boxing Night 32 by becoming the youngest-ever WABU champion, will defend his Super Flyweight championship in a highly anticipated continental bout.
Animashaun was the night’s top boxer and took home N1 million in addition to the WABU championship in his last fight. The Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy is given to the greatest boxer of the night.
“Badoo” was born and brought up in a humble Lagos home; his father, Jamiu Animashaun, encouraged him to boxing because he thought it may help them overcome their financial hardships. The older Animashaun has competed on two episodes of GOtv Boxing Night and now trains his son.
The championship belts and increasing renown are the fruits of that fatherly tutelage. As a result of her brother’s achievements, his 12-year-old sister has also started boxing, thus continuing the family’s history.
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In addition to becoming one of Nigeria’s most promising boxers, Animashaun has just been accepted into the University of Lagos’s Law School. Aside from a solid future in athletics, the adolescent pugilist hopes to have a deeper understanding of how systems function, which is why he is actively pursuing an academic degree.
Many young Nigerians, particularly those who feel they have no choice but to sacrifice their education for athletics, have found inspiration in Animashaun’s story. He shows maturity and resolve beyond his years by pursuing both, no matter how difficult the circumstances.