Seventeen-year-old West African boxing champion, Raheem ‘Badoo’ Animashaun, talks about how he started boxing in Mushin, how he combines boxing and law school, his dreams in boxing and more in this interview with PETER AKINBO…..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
You must have started boxing really young. How did that start?
My dad is also a professional boxer; his name is Jamiu Animashaun. He has also fought a lot in the past, but when he was at the end of his career, he decided to train his kid, that’s me. So, he decided to train me at the age of three. So, I’ve been training since the age of three, and I’ve fought lots of amateur matches. When I was 16, which was last year, he decided I would go pro. And I turned pro. And I began fighting, and I became the West African Boxing Champion in the super-lightweight category, number one in West Africa.
You have achieved something close to Mike Tyson’s record of a world heavyweight title at 20. Do you think you can break that record?
Yes, I think I have the potential to capture a world title before I’m 20 because my consistency and the pace I am moving at are on par with no one else. I’ve been consistent, and I’m always trying to improve my craft in any way, so I believe that I can definitely surpass Mike Tyson and break the record of becoming a world champion at the age of 20.
How did you even first feel when you captured that WABU belt?
It felt really great, it felt nice. When I was young, fighting in amateurs, I was watching lots of boxers and lots of talented boxers were holding that particular belt, and when I captured it, I was happy because it was a testament to my hard work towards the sport of boxing and that made me believe that I could actually do more, surpass myself and become a world champion.
How has it been combining boxing and studying law at UNILAG?
The thing is that before we get to fight, we are made to know about three months before the fight, so I generally know how to arrange my schedule. So during times of academic exams and stuff like that, I study very well while training in school or at home. There are times when I do not come home and stay in school doing overtime and stuff, but still I try my best to train at least once a day. When my fight is a month away, then I start to train morning, afternoon and night, then time for exams, then I go back to school, then I start reading or studying, that’s how I balance it.
Actively, you work as a boxer, but you are studying to be a lawyer. How do you plan to combine these two later on, or plan to leave one?
I plan to practice sports law because I will combine my experience in both the field of boxing and the field of law, and then I will become a sports lawyer. This will be while I am still boxing, and even when I am done with boxing, I will still continue my sports law career.
What do you consider the biggest challenge you have faced since you started boxing?
The challenges I’ve been facing are the fact that people are still turning a blind eye towards my talent, because of my young age. Before I could go pro, there were a lot of issues that needed to be resolved with the NBBofC due to the fact that I am very young, and they were like, ‘This kid will get injured,’ but I’m so glad that I’ve been able to prove them wrong so far. My 15-0 record with 9KOs has been a testament to that, and I believe that if I continue with this pace, continue with the level of hard work that I’m keeping up, they will be able to see that ‘this kid is all that’. Not just hearsay, he’s someone who will definitely bring Nigeria’s name out there to the world stage. So basically, that’s the challenge that I’m facing. Apart from that, none. Because my dad has been with me all through the way, and most of the challenges, he is the one who will be able to say. As far as on my side, he has not been able to let me know or make me feel that something like this is going on.
What would you say is your happiest moment in boxing?
It was when I won the West African Boxing Union title, because it had never been done in Africa, that a 16-year-old won the West African Boxing Union title. Currently, I’m number five in Africa and number one in Nigeria. When I started professional boxing, I was ranked number 17 in Nigeria, and the fact that I could climb the ranking to number one made me feel very happy. Capturing the WABU title last year against a boxer like Richman Ashelley, who has travelled to countries like America, made me feel very happy to stop him in round six.
How did your mom react when your dad started teaching you to box at three?
She didn’t even want me to box at all. She was always having issues with my dad, because she didn’t want me to box at all, till I started to grow and I started to fight pro. Before, she didn’t even watch my boxing matches; it was when I turned pro that she saw ‘Wow, this boy is actually good, let me just give it a chance and let me start watching him.’ That’s when she just started watching me box, but at first she didn’t want me to box at all, but now she’s fine with it.
What can you tell us about your amateur career?
I fought a lot in the amateurs, but I never went to the National Sports Festivals. I wanted to go to the NSF in 2023, but then it was postponed to 2024, and in 2024, it was postponed to 2025, so that’s why I didn’t get to participate in the National Sports Festival. That’s why my dad felt that they would keep postponing this thing, let me just go pro, and I’m happy as I am now, because if I had not done that, I wouldn’t have accomplished this level of progress in my sports development.
Do you want to represent Nigeria at the Olympics?
Yes, so I plan to compete at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and other competitions like the Commonwealth Games and any other international competition. I definitely plan to represent my country.
What would you say is your ultimate goal with boxing?
My ultimate goal is to become multi-weight division champion and an undisputed champion because there has not been an undisputed champion to come out of Nigeria in the four-belt era. There have been unified champions, but there has never been an undisputed champion. My main goal is to become a multi-division champion and an undisputed champion, so I plan to keep growing my weight and dominate in other divisions.
Your Dad started you from three years old, and he continues to represent you now. What role does he play in your career?
My dad has done a lot for my career. Without my dad, I would never be at this stage. He has been my advisor who has led me through this; that’s why I always try to keep him close, and through his love and support, and with my mom, I have been able to come to this stage.
In boxing, they don’t allow you to fight people in the streets. Did you ever experience a period where you were pressured into a fight?
No, I don’t really like fighting. First-hand, I knew what fighting is about, so I don’t like getting into fights because it’s just stressful. So I try my very best to avoid that. And I do get into heated arguments with people, but still, I just end up walking away. I know that I can do something that will definitely hurt this person. But what if I hurt this person and the person basically ends up dying, then I’ll be the one left with a dead body on the floor. So that’s why I just avoid fighting with normal people. I also tell people to please avoid fights.
But did they use to fear you in the streets where you grew up in Mushin?
I won’t call it fear because I’m a very respectful kid, I respect people a lot, and so probably they don’t even know that I’m a boxer. They just respect me for who I am and the fact that I don’t even cause trouble around the streets and everything. I’m just a respectful boy who trains, eats, sleeps, and prays. I don’t try to engage in things that will make or break me. I just live my own way….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
