From motor mechanic  to  boxing : Amazing rise of Champion Muibi from grass to grace

Many years ago, in front of some aspiring boxers, Lekan ‘The Engine’ Muibi had his hands raised in victory after defeating a sparring partner who was three years older than him.

This happened inside a local boxing gym in Abeokuta, 25km from Mowe-Ibafo in Ogun State, where he resided.

The then-amateur Muibi received no reward for a decision win over his opponent but he gave boxing fans in the arena a glimpse of his raw talent, power and ability.

It was the first time boxing fans at the Butch Gym Arena in Abeokuta saw teenage boxing at its best after Muibi thrilled them with his powerful punching and fearless boxing skills, which complemented his calm demeanour.

At the age of nine, Muibi left Ibafo for Mafoluku in Lagos metropolis, where he forged a reputation as one of the finest amateur boxers in the state. This happened in his teenage years amid initial rejections by coaches who never had faith in him despite showing early promises.

He was determined to tread the path of stardom despite still undergoing training to become an automobile mechanic, which his late father said would make him self-reliant.

It was his mechanic background coupled with his toughness and staying power that earned him the nickname ‘The Engine’.

The 23-year-old, who is the current National Light Heavyweight Champion, explained how fortune has smiled on him since turning to  in 2013.

Muibi’s move to Lagos offered him a chance to steer his life towards his dreams, but his journey to prominence was full of ups and downs, having been a mechanic at a motor park in Ibafo before his career set off.

 “It was my brother (Olatunde) that lured me into boxing because he used to train as a boxer back then,” Muibi told Nation Sports.  “He took me down to a gym, and I remember that it was after I beat a young boxer who was three years older in a sparring session that I fell in love with boxing.

 “After my first fight at the gym, which I won, I knew I was born with talent. I found boxing a good sport where my strength and power will be more utilised than working as an apprentice automobile mechanic.

 “During my years as a mechanic, I was nicknamed ‘The Engine’ because I usually worked alone without support from my colleagues. I enjoyed lifting heavy objects at the workshop, which helped in building my strength and physique.”

Ciro Confidence, a professional boxing coach who mentored Muibi as a rookie until his first amateur fight in 2018, was convinced of his potential from the first time he worked with him at a local boxing gym in Mafoluku.

 “I will never forget the first time I took him (Muibi) on a 30-minute pad session,” Confidence told Nation Sports. “After that pad session, I was convinced that he was good enough to become a champion someday.

“Engine is very fast, skilled, and strong in the ring, and these are some attributes you need at the early stage of your boxing career. He is fearless, which is a great quality.”

Meeting Confidence was pivotal for Muibi’s accomplishments, as he helped reshape the pugilist’s career when he almost quit the sport.

At that time, Muibi could barely feed himself, as he was not getting paid for just training as a boxer. His training kits were getting worn out, and he could not afford to change them.

At some point, his dreams turned to nightmares. The future looked increasingly bleak, with his hopes dimming rapidly.

 “He thought of dumping boxing and returning fully to an automobile mechanic apprenticeship because of the hardship he faced earlier in his career. But somehow, we managed to make him stay focused by supporting him with all he needed in his new-found career. I told him never to give up,” Confidence said.

Muibi also recalled how his mother encouraged him to forge on in his boxing career in the face of daunting odds before he turned professional.

 “It was a bad moment for me because I could barely feed well, and as a boxer, it was not good health wise,” Muibi said in a chat with Nation Sports.

 “There were times I had to walk a long distance to training, and I wore a training kit that didn’t look good for a boxer.

 “I thought of quitting, but my coach and my family, particularly my mother, who accepted my decision to become a boxer, supported me and always told me to never give up.

 “I lost hope in boxing, but she kept encouraging me to continue training, and I just obeyed, hoping that someday I would be a star.”

In 2018, Muibi’s hard work and resilience paid off, as he eventually had his breakthrough, emerging as the best boxer at the Gift Cole amateur boxing contest in Lekki, Lagos, which featured over 500 boxers.

He finally reached stardom and financially began to live his dreams as a boxer.

Even though Muibi never doubted his abilities as a boxer, he admitted that he never believed that his talent could be spotted at such a big event.

In achieving the feat, Muibi recorded six wins via knockouts at the tourney and was named the best boxer overall, receiving a cash reward of N3 million and a brand new Toyota Corolla car for his efforts.

 “I’d say winning that tournament was the turning point in my career,” Muibi continued.

 “Nobody gave me a chance to prove myself until that tournament became my launching pad.

 “That was the sign I needed to know that I was destined to be a boxer.”

On January 14, 2022, Muibi made his professional debut, taking on Raji Babawale at the Yucateco Arena in Ikorodu. He was declared the winner after his opponent failed to show up for the third round.

The likes of Gbenga Lateef, David Cosmos, Mohammed Razak, Friday Obasi, Ademola Faniyi, and Anicet Amoussou are some of the pugilists knocked out by Muibi last year.

He continued his fistic conquest last year by defeating Femi Gbenga in March, and two months later, he outclassed Idowu Rasheed at the National Stadium, Indoor Sports Hall, and also defeated Sunday Ajuwa at the Old School Hall in Surulere, Lagos.

Muibi said Anthony Joshua was the reason he picked up boxing gloves and revealed spending hours watching YouTube videos of the British-Nigerian boxer in order to improve his skills when asked about his inspiration.

 “It was Mike Tyson that first inspired me to take up boxing. My elder brother shared some of his fights on YouTube with me. But it was Joshua who really fired my imagination—that I could make it to the top because he is Nigerian like me,” he continued.

His Facebook page is littered with pictures and videos of Joshua as well as other global boxing superstars, underscoring his aspiration, imagination, and determination.

There are also countless videos of Muibi himself shadow-boxing, sparring, and training with the most rudimentary of equipment in Spartan surroundings.

 “I learn a lot from him. He is very powerful but conserves his power,” he explained. “I study his accuracy with his punches and how he studies his opponent and thinks before throwing a punch. He is very calculative.

 “My dream is to spar with him someday. There is so much I can learn from him.

 “His footwork is underrated, and I like his new style, the one he employed in the second fight against Ruiz. It was very interesting and effective.”

While Muibi dreams of getting in a ring with Joshua, the majority of his fans in Nigeria will be happy to see him extend his winning streak next month.

With an unbeaten run of 14 knockout wins in as many fights, Muibi is aiming to continue his form on December 26 (Boxing Day), when he takes to the ring for his next fight against a yet-to-be named opponent.

He is currently in training preparing for the vacant WBA Africa light heavyweight title fight on Boxing Day.

 “I’ve been training hard, and with my next fight coming up next month, I want to keep winning.”

NAationsonline