Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, advised veteran Nigerian boxer Bash Ali to pursue private funding for his long‑awaited Guinness World Record Boxing Championship, while ruling out direct government financing for the project. The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a report by the House Committee on Public Petitions, chaired by Kwamoti Bitrus, on a petition filed by the former cruiserweight champion against the National Sports Commission (NSC). The House directed Ali to “proceed strictly within the framework of a privately‑funded initiative and in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements governing sporting events in Nigeria”.
Presenting the committee’s report during plenary, Bitrus said Ali had alleged acts of sabotage and administrative impediments by officials of the NSC, which he claimed had frustrated decades of effort to stage the historic boxing event in Nigeria. Following its review, the committee recommended that Ali pursue the project as a strictly private venture.
While rejecting government funding, the House urged relevant government agencies to provide “non‑financial support such as security, protocol coordination and international liaison, where formally requested and deemed appropriate, without creating financial liability for the government”. Lawmakers also directed the NSC to ensure a “fair, transparent, and non‑discriminatory regulatory environment”, including timely processing of approvals, access to facilities on standard terms, and coordination with relevant agencies for security and logistics.
The resolution marks a significant turning point in a project that has remained one of the most enduring and controversial issues in Nigerian sports administration. Ali, now 70 years old, has been pursuing the proposed Guinness World Record fight since the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Over the years, he has repeatedly accused successive governments and sports administrators of frustrating his ambition to stage the bout in Nigeria despite securing endorsements from various local and international stakeholders.
The former World Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion rose to international prominence in the 1980s and remains one of Nigeria’s most recognisable boxing figures. His proposed record‑breaking fight is aimed at securing a place in boxing history as the oldest man to compete in a professional championship contest.
While the House stopped short of endorsing direct government financing for the project, its resolution effectively provides a framework under which Ali can continue pursuing the fight through private sponsorship and investment, while receiving necessary regulatory cooperation from relevant authorities. For supporters of the veteran boxer, the decision offers renewed hope that a dream that has survived multiple administrations and decades of controversy may yet become a reality.
The House also called on the Federal Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Commission to clearly define and communicate the boundaries of government involvement in privately organised international sporting events to avoid future misunderstandings and disputes. With the ball now in the veteran boxer’s court, the long‑running saga of Bash Ali’s Guinness World Record quest has entered a new chapter.
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