The history of boxing in Nigeria will be incomplete without a mention of Samuel Odubote, a former West African boxing champion, who equally plied his trade in the United Kingdom in the 50s. BOSEDE OLUSOLA-OBASA reports that the 85-year-old former boxer and a grade A referee remains a boxer at heart in spite of his age
Let’s put our hands together in honour of Pa Samuel Odubote, a renowned boxer, who did Nigeria proud in his prime,” announced a female voice on the public address system. Everyone looked in different directions of the hall that was filled to capacity to catch a glimpse of an unsung hero, whose presence had just been recognised. Just then, the 85-year-old six-footer started taking steps towards the stage – unaided.
Spotting a simple traditional attire, Odubote a.k.a. Teddy Odus, acknowledged cheers from the audience and returned to sit by his wife. That was a way of recognising him for his achievements during a time out with fellow old people at an event staged in Lagos to celebrate Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary.
SATURDAY PUNCH later had an encounter with Pa Odubote, who undoubtedly should be one of the personalities that Nigeria should recognise at this point in the history of the country.
In an interview, Teddy Odus exhibited a sound knowledge of contemporary issues, except that the pitch of his voice has waned.
“Oh, you press people have forgotten me; it has been a long time,” was how he opened the interaction. Although his name is Samuel Adebisi Odubote, he coined Teddy Odus from the name of the legendary British boxer, Teddy ‘Kid’ Louis, whose boxing style was reckoned with among boxing enthusiasts.
His happiest moment as a professional boxer, he said, was when he won the Colister belt in 1945; it was a fight against a boxer in a higher category. He still holds the memory of the Colister belt dear to his heart. He says, “That made me the West African champion and the first Nigerian to hold the title especially because I won it in a fight with someone above my weight category. I believe I won because I was very fast on my legs. I had good footwork, which meant that I utilised my back-and-forth movements with good calculation and my hands were quite swift. Before an opponent got me once, he must have received four jabs from me. I didn’t receive many punches on my head because of my footwork; it stood me out in that fight against Tommy Proffitt, who was rated high those days.”
But that was not all in the series of his firsts. In 1947, he became the first Nigerian in any category to beat a Ghanaian boxer; becoming a double champion by winning titles in two different weight categories. In 1951, he travelled to the United Kingdom, where he had 13 professional fights. One of the fights, he recalled, was the one against then British bantamweight champion in a challenge contest.
Gesticulating as he talked, the former boxing champion said to the admiration of his wife, “I outpointed him. It was four months after I arrived in the United Kingdom; that was also my second fight there. In 1952, I became the first Nigerian to be rated as number 10 contender for the world title in the bantamweight category. Although I didn‘t win the world title, it opened the path for other Nigerians like Hogan Kid Bassey, who won the world title five years later.”
He was born in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State in 1925, but has lived and worked in Lagos all his life, except when he travelled out to study electrical engineering, or as a referee and trainer.
Still having a trim stature, he went down memory, recalling how he was a tiny little boy. In fact, he was almost being denied enrolment into a primary school because of his size.
“I was very small. When I was ready to start school, I was going to be denied because I had a very small body; so, they had to add some years to my actual age to help me meet the required standard,” he says.
For him, keeping fit is the hallmark of being a successful sportsman. Obviously, Teddy Odus cannot fight any longer, but still keeps a regular appointment with training. “I’m still very strong. Back in the days,” he reminiscences, ”I remember that I kept a stringent daily exercise for years. I lived in Ebute-Meta and from there, I would run very early in the morning to the Yaba terminus and from there again I would run to Eko Bus Stop, before returning to my residence on Salvage Street. That routine helped me to build great strength that I could stand many rounds in the ring and not get tired. My legs could carry me for as long as I wanted.”
A good footwork was his unique selling point as a boxer, a strategy he believes helped him to dodge punches to his head. He believes that in retirement, many professional boxers suffer serious health challenges from receiving too many blows to the head in their active days.
“When I was a referee in Muhammad Ali’s fight, I observed that he seldom shielded his head from punches. That is what I was saying about good footwork. It is not good receiving punches to the head. He was comfortable with receiving punches to his head, but that has its adverse effects,” he said.
Odubote leaves a strong word for sportsmen and administrators, saying many of them only want cheap money, but lack the commitment that sports demand. He believes that if the government pays attention to older sports personalities, it will motivate the younger generation of Nigerians. An unrepentant believer in the future of boxing in Nigeria, he canvasses better dedication to the sports. “Sport is not for lazy people. You can‘t be lazy and be a sportsman. It requires discipline whether in season and out of season,” says Teddy Odus. “The boys are no longer interested these days because the demands are enormous. It requires you to keep training whether you are having a fight or not. You must always be on your guard. I started my boxing career in 1939, but boxers these days are just lazy. At over 80, I can still do my morning rounds, jogging very early in the morning.”
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