Larry Ekundayo becomes European IBF welterweight champion after unanimous decision

NIGERIA'S Larry Ekundayo has become the new International Boxing Federation (IBF) European welterweight boxing champion after defeating John Thian last night at the Bethnal Green Arena in London.

Winning by a unanimous decision after going the full distance, Ekundayo was scored 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112 by the three judges. Reknown for his sleekness and uncommon abilities to box, Ekundayo draws inspiration from fellow Nigerian, the current world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua who has publicly supported him.

Nicknamed The natural, Ekundayo was his usual self yesterday, putting together a string of neat punches, which the Scotman Thian had no answer to.  First hitting the limelight when he won the African Boxing Union title in 2015 by beating Ghana's Joseph Lamptey, Ekundayo was the first winner of the 2012 Professional Betfair Light Middle Prizefighter tournament and since then has never looked back.

Having returned from surgery earlier this year, Ekundayo, 35, was sensational last night, showing why he is regarded as one of the sleekest welterweights in the world. His victory sent the huge Nigerian crowd into raptures, as they applauded his neat footwork and tidy punching combinations.

Ekundayo said: “I had a bone growing out of place and it was affecting nerves in my knuckles. It was causing me really bad pain before my last fight but I had to just get on with it and the bone has been shaved back and I can use my hands properly now.”

Among those who showed up to support him last night included the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK Justice George Oguntade, the former chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk) Chief Bimbo Afolayan and the founder of the Nigerian Women in Diaspora Leadership Forum Jenny Okafor. His fight was sponsored by the Love of Christ Generation Church.