King Davidson Emenogu popularly known as 'Hand of God' in boxing circles is the current World Boxing Organisation (WBO) International Junior Middleweight champion. The Australia-based Nigerian boxer will be making his first title defence in Abuja on May 31. In this interview with IFEANYI EDUZOR, he speaks about his preparations for the fight and the state of professional boxing in Nigeria.
Can you tell us how you embraced the pugilist trade?
My involvement in boxing was not by accident, but rather the sport runs in the family. My father, Christopher Emenogu, was a former Nigerian bantam weight champion and that accounted for the support I got from the entire family in 1996 when I decided to take after my father.
When I took that decision, I had in mind to surpass my father's record and I am happy that today apart from being WBO world champion, I also hold WBO African light middleweight title, IBF Pan-pacific youth light middleweight title, Pan Asian Boxing Association light middleweight and Australian light middleweight titles.
It might also interest you to know that I was a gold medallist at the National Sports Festival in 1996 in Makurdi, Benue State and a silver medallist at Imo State in 1998.
I also won another gold medal in Bauchi 2000 National Sports Festival, as well as winning a bronze medal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games same year before settling down in Australia in 2006 where I was voted the best boxer in 2009 when I joined the paid ranks.
I have also won 12 of my professional fights on knockouts, four by unanimous decision and just lost once to an opponent. Having said this I want to tell you that I have always seen my father as my mentor because of the regimented training he introduced me to when I was coming up as a boxer.
You will soon defend your WBO International Junior middleweight title on May 31 in Abuja, how prepared are you for the title defence?
I am really prepared for the title defence because anybody who has been following my fights will understand that I fear no foe as far as the light middleweight is concerned. You know that my decision to stage the fight in Nigeria after winning it in June 2012 was to encourage our young ones desiring to make a career in boxing, as well as restore the lost glory of boxing in the country.
I was supposed to defend the title in England, but I rejected the offer because I want Nigerians to have the opportunity of watching me live. I am fully prepared and concentrating on my training to make sure I retain my title.
What is your take on the recent statement by your Egyptian opponent Abdumonem Said that he is going to end your reign in front of your home fans?
My opponent is a very good boxer considering that he has an intimidating record of 10 wins out of 10 fights, but I am not intimidated by his record at the light middleweight category. All I am concerned about is to be in the right shape for the fight, and then everybody will see who the better boxer is.
Having said this, I want you to understand that any boxer challenging for a title will always dream of beating the champion, but all I can tell him is that he is going to meet his waterloo on that day because I will use the fight as a centenary gift to Nigerians. I am particularly happy that this fight will be staged in front of my countrymen to enable them see their son doing what he loves to do best.
How would you describe your relationship with Prophet T. B. Joshua whom you always refer to as your spiritual father?
I have a very big respect for Prophet T. B Joshua who has always guided me spiritually and morally on and off the ring.
My relationship with the Man of God is like father and son relationship. He always prays for me whenever I am fighting and he once prophesised that I was going to be a world champion which has come to pass. God is really using him to touch and change many lives and I owe him a lot for making me what I am today.
Prophet T. B Joshua has really impacted positively in my life and I want you to understand that my successes in the ring could not have been possible without his prayers and spiritual guidance. Almighty God is using him to bring smiles to the faces of many people.
Prior to my meeting the Man of God, I had experienced series of setbacks each time I had a major fight, especially whenever I was scheduled to fight. Is either I sustain an injury that will lead to the postponement of the fight or force me to withdraw, but after having an encounter with the Prophet at Synagogue Church of all Nations, my story changed and since then, I have maintained a cordial relationship with him.
How would you describe your experiences since relocating to Australia in pursuit of your professional career?
The decision to move to Australia in pursuit of my professional career has really helped me a lot in achieving my dream of becoming a world champion. When I got there, I discovered that boxers back home are many year backwards because they still train with obsolete equipment with little or no promoters to organise professional fights.
To be sincere with you my movement to Australia turned me into a better fighter and that is why I want to stage my next fight in the country. I want to show upcoming boxers that they can make it in the paid ranks and probably see how I can help some good ones among them achieve their dreams of travelling to Europe and America to pursue their professional careers.
What do you think contributes to Nigerian boxers not making it in Europe?
It is wrong for anybody to say that Nigerian boxers based in Europe and America are not doing well. We have great boxers such as former WBC heavyweight champion, Samuel Peter, Segun Ajose, Ola Afolabi, and Wale "Lucky Boy" Omotosho are all Nigerian boxers doing well abroad.
Having said this I believe that any boxer who works hard will definitely make it and attract the best promoters in the world to handle their fights. Nigeria is blessed with lots of talented boxers and even in other areas of human endeavor. I believe that with more exposure, many Nigerian boxers will have a crack at the world title.
Looking at professional boxing in Nigeria, do you think our boxers have what it takes to rule the world?
Yes they do, but they are operating under a very difficult terrain. Most of our boxers do not have money to afford two meals per day and yet they train under very difficult conditions. The equipment they use are obsolete and the poor economic situation in the country does not encourage promoters to invest in the sport, which ought to have enabled them get rankings from relevant boxing bodies.
With this type of situation, it becomes difficult to produce future champions in the mold of Hogan Bassey and Dick Tiger of blessed memories. But I will advise them not to lose hope because the sport in Nigeria will soon get its leadership position, not only in the continent but in the world.
What should Nigerians expect from you on the day of your title defence?
Boxing fans in the country should expect nothing less than victory on May 31. I am not going to predict the outcome of the fight, but all I can promise my fans is that I am going to record a knockout on that day.
They should remember that this is a great opportunity for them to watch a world title fight and if Australians have been supporting me, I also expect my fellow countrymen to troop out in large numbers and give me the necessary support to retain my title. They should come and see a combination of Sugar Ray Leonard, Mohammed Ali and Evander Holyfield molded into one.
National Mirror