He is noted worldwide as a fighter whose fame accrued from inflicting deadly punches and “knocking down” his opponents. He is also currently angling to emerge  in  the World Guinness Book of Record as the oldest man to engage in an organized boxing.

But at a recent occasion in Warri, Delta State, Bashiru Ali (aka ‘Bash Ali’), the World Boxing Federation cruiser weight title holder and Nigeria’s boxing legend, left behind his boxer’s gloves and instead, turned, even if momentarily, to preaching peace, brotherliness and unconditional love.

The event was the launch of the book “Brotherly Love” written by Ulisanmi Edukugho, a pastor and music minister which focused on ensuring friendship as a panacea to societal disintegration. The event which held at the Lifespring Church in Warri, attracted several people from across many fields in the society.

“If we must see lasting peace in Nigeria, we must imbibe the spirit of genuine friendship regardless of our tribe and religious orientations,” said Ali.

Betty Abah, Lagos-based writer activist and a friend of the writer’s, said the book was most timely. Our nation and indeed, our world is tettering on the brink of enmity-induced collapse and only a return back to love as advocated by this book can be the panacea”, she said.