One of Nigeria’s reputable professional boxers, Akeem ‘Dodo’ Sadiku, 37, died on Saturday, two weeks after he was hospitalised at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
He was buried also on Saturday at Ijebu-Igbo, his hometown according to Islamic rites.
According to CEO of Afrique Boxing Promotion (COABOX), Olusola Ayodele, the boxer had a successful surgery on Friday and was returned to the Intensive Care Unit of UCH where he was recuperating, only to develop complications overnight and gave up the ghost Saturday morning.
Sadiku who defeated George Amuzu from Côte D’Ivoire in a continental boxing challenge bout held at Ilaji Resort on December 27th on knockout has a good professional boxing record consisting of 11 total fights, with 9 Wins (7 by Knockout), 1 Loss and 1 Draw.
Mourning the super welterweight fighter, President Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, NBBofC Dr. Rafiu Ladipo described his death as a very sad one to the Nigerian boxing family saying Dodo is one of the best fighters Nigeria had in the professional cadre.
Meanwhile, chairman, Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Oyo State chapter, Honorable Gbenga Opaleye, has described the demise of Dodo, who won the gold for Oyo State at three editions of the National Sports Festival as a big loss to the sporting fraternity.
“This is a loss not only to Oyo State but to the Nigerian professional boxing at large, he was such a focused and fine boxer. We are going to miss him sorely because he inspired many of our boxers in Oyo State today. He became a role model to our boxers and he will always be a reference point.
“His death came as a shocker, it is so painful. May God grant him Aljanah fridaus and give his family the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss,”‘ Opaleye said.
Also in a tribute, secretary-general of NBB of C, Mr. Remi Aboderin, expressed shock over the incident.
“We lost Akeem Dodo a pro boxer today [Saturday], our sympathy to his family, may his soul rest in peace,” he wrote on the Whatsapp platform of NBB of C.
The Ogun State-born pugilist was a force to reckon with in Nigerian professional boxing with his exploits which saw him record only one defeat in no fewer than 13 professional bouts.
He started in the super welterweight before he ended up in the middleweight category.
The three-time National Sports Festival kickboxing gold medalist for Oyo State had a 77 per cent KO ratio record at a time in professional boxing which made him one of the best fighters even on the sub-region.
Dodo before his last fight had stopped Jacob Lokossou of Benin Republic on August 12, 2019 with a first round Knockout (KO).
His ‘kinsmen and women’ in the Boxing world comprising Nigerian officials, coaches, boxers and others on their WhatsApp platform APB accessed by Patmos Media Line were full of lamentations that a boxing hope has been dimmed.
One of his compatriots, simply known as Coach Omega told Patmos Media that their camp where they train in Ibadan has been on lockdown as they are mourning Dodo (his nickname) but we found out that Boxers across Africa call him Mike Tyson because of the power of his punches.
A search on the APB platform shows that the Boxing family got a knock down from the news of Dodo’s death as they within two weeks just lost a Coach, Prince Olayinka who the group gave financial support to the family in a move coordinated by Nollywood Yoruba Ace, Rasak Baroka Oyadiran who is a recognized Boxing Referee.
The second knockdown is painful to the group that has Nigeria’s boxing greats like Isaac Ikhuoria; Anthony Konyegwachie; Baba Aransiola and Dr. Ola Ayeni poured tribute to Akeem ‘Dodo’ Sadiku who grew up before their eyes after he crossed from kick boxing to real boxing.
He was survived by four children.
