From the deeps of the quagmire that is the endangered professional boxing in Nigeria beckons the lone surviving hope, in the form of Olusegun Ajose who is compelled to sacrifice his own Christmas and New Year pleasures as he pursues what looks to be a career defining assignment early in the new year.

On the night of Thursday January 6, 2011 in far away Algiers, Ajose will keep a date with the local Ali Sheba in the final WBC 140-pound championship eliminator that will define ten years committed on an obstacle-ridden career. Winner will be rewarded with a direct crack at the title held by the American Devon Alexander, later in the year.
Perhaps

The plain truth is that nothing is certain when and where it involves the quicksilver Nigerian Army ring artiste who has been avoided year in, year out, by all rival camps the world over for being too good for his own good.

This is the rather intriguing experience of a man unable to take a step beyond a two-year Number One ranking built on an otherwise unblemished 28-0 (14 kos) record compiled mainly in his United Kingdom base, as well as in the domestic front here, these ten years on.

It’s also the tale of how fate can play on a man’s chosen path. For all his vaunted ring endowment Olusegun has had to struggle to keep pace with his less gifted rivals and colleagues alike when it comes to the tools that matter in this game.

For instance, while he stands poles apart from lumbering fellow Sydney Olympics team mate Samuel Peter, it is the latter who has a world heavyweight title glory to his name, together with bulging Dollar-filled pockets that have set Peter up for life.

And even at the peak of his developmental point, it was British rivals Ricky Hatton and Junior Witter who got all the ink, connection and the opportunities to take them to the Promised Land. Sure, Ajose never had a Mike Barrett to pave the way.

Ajose rates by far the most advanced ring pupil to emerge in Nigeria – amateur or pro, alike – since the competent Obisia Nwankpa carried the Green-White-Green banner in the 1970s. And it was a testimony to his clear-cut potential that prompted the trio of James Oyebola, Phillip Bloom and Scott Ewins to fly into Lagos to formally contract Olusegun to a pro career in England, on his return from a surprisingly unrewarding 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

The project was master-minded by the towering Oyebola, with the acquisition of the patent of the celebrated Detroit Kronk (USA) headed by the legendary Emmanuel Steward providing a major fillip. Long-serving Joe Mensah completed the team on being drafted in as trainer.

Like Obisia Nwankpa before him, Ajose was formally released to turn pro on Army sponsorship by which he has benefited from an uninterrupted campaign till date.

I had the privilege of witnessing live all of Ajose’s three domestic ring appearances, as he effortlessly accounted for Sunday Ajayi (2002), Adewale Adegbusi (2003), and touted Republic of Benin import, Victor Padonou whom he outmaneuvered for the African Boxing Union Super lightweight belt in 2004 in Calabar. I’ve never met a more trainable pupil.

Ajose’s growing ring excellence was never quite matched by his fortunes, though, the hitch reaching a head when the Kronk deal collapsed with the folding up of the parent house in Detroit. He had to relocate to My Gym in North Finchlay in Central London.

Fights were not really forthcoming as managers and promoters in the UK steered clear of the speedy southpaw. Nevertheless, Ajose had compiled a respectable 25-0 log by 2007.

Then his world collapsed when James Oyebola was fatally gunned down later same year by a club-house bum.  Comparatively, Ajose’s career pales beside those of the elite rivals that make the 140-pound Div tick. WBC holder Devon Alexander (21-0), ex-WBC titlist Timothy Bradley who walked away unbeaten from his belt to engage in a lucrative contest for the WBO laurels, and youthful Amir Khan who only lately defended his WBA belt, all got their title cracks with fewer bouts and shorter spell as pros.

All Olusegun has to show for his long service so far have been the Nigerian National, ABU, Commonwealth, British, and WBF belts. Deep down within him, he would love a meeting with any of the above-listed names – one at a time. Even the Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao would be a welcome proposition for the fight-starved Ajose.

In late 2009, Canada-based Romanian Dan Ionnut was nominated for the eliminator with Ajose, only to bail out at the last moment to have a crack (howbeit unsuccessful) at the full welterweight title.

It’s instructive that Ajose’s upcoming January 6 bout was originally slated for November 2010 as part of Algeria’s National Day activities after the local promoter out-bid our own Silverbird out-fit to stage the event. But when the promoter, too, defaulted on the date, it was up to Prince Adeboye and the WBC to make the new year date mandatory for Team Sheba.

There’s no doubting the ability of the US-based Ali Sheba who sports an equally respectable 25-0 career log. I’m not expecting a walk-over for Ajose who will be performing right in front of Ali’s own countrymen demanding a re-enacting of the proud moments handed down to all Algerians Mimmun Ben Ali and Marcel Cerdan of blessed memory.

Yet, for 30-year-old Olusegun Ajose January 6 is a far greater demand, if he realizes that he’s the one remaining hope shouldering the expectation of 150 million countrymen. Plus, give meaning to his own financial dreams.

Just too late to fail.