BY OJO SAMSON AYOMIDE
Nigerian boxing veteran Bash Ali has been honoured with the prestigious West Africa Boxing Icon Award by Elation Magazine, Royal International Magazine, and Elation Communications Ltd at a recent event in Abuja.
The recognition celebrates Ali’s long-standing contribution to boxing and his determination to keep Nigeria at the centre of his professional career.
Ali, who holds the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Cruiserweight title, has built a reputation around his unwavering commitment to representing Nigeria. His supporters point to what they describe as a defining decision in his career: turning down a reported €75 million offer to stage a fight outside Nigeria, choosing instead to pursue major boxing ambitions on home soil.
For Ali, the decision reflects a philosophy that has become closely associated with his name — putting Nigeria first.
His career has also been marked by an ambition to create boxing history. Ali is currently pursuing the opportunity to become the oldest boxer in the world to fight and win a boxing tournament, a goal that would add another extraordinary chapter to his career if achieved, and enters his name and that of his fatherland in the Guinness Book of World Record
The veteran boxer has consistently presented his journey not merely as a personal quest, but as an effort to raise the profile of Nigerian boxing internationally.
The West Africa Boxing Icon honour therefore comes at a significant moment for Ali, whose career continues to attract attention because of his longevity, determination and stated commitment to taking Nigerian boxing to the global stage.
Speaking through the spirit of his career and public advocacy for Nigerian boxing, Ali’s message has remained consistent: Nigeria can produce champions capable of competing on the world stage without abandoning their home country.
The Abuja award ceremony brought together the recognition of Ali’s past achievements and the anticipation surrounding what could become the next major milestone in his boxing career.
With the WBF Cruiserweight belt already part of his legacy and his sights set on a historic tournament victory, Bash Ali’s story remains one of ambition, national pride and a determination to challenge the conventional limits of age in professional boxing.
If he succeeds in his latest quest, the Nigerian boxing veteran would not only add another distinction to his résumé but could also create a record that would resonate far beyond Nigeria and across the international boxing community.