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By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed veteran Nigerian boxer, Bash Ali’s long-standing bid to stage a Guinness World Record championship fight, while ruling out any form of government funding for the proposed event.
The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a report presented by the House Committee on Public Petitions, chaired by Mr Kwamoti Bitrus, on a petition filed by the former cruiserweight champion against the National Sports Commission.
Ali is seeking to stage a Guinness World Record boxing bout that would make him the oldest professional boxer in history to compete in a sanctioned championship fight, a project he has pursued for more than two decades across successive administrations.
Presenting the committee’s findings during plenary, Bitrus said the petition alleged administrative bottlenecks and obstruction by officials of the National Sports Commission, which the boxer claims have hindered the actualisation of the proposed championship event.
Following its consideration, the committee recommended that the project proceed strictly as a privately funded initiative, with clear compliance to regulatory requirements governing sporting events in Nigeria.
The House subsequently adopted the recommendation, stating that “the petitioner (Bash Ali) should proceed strictly within the framework of a privately-funded initiative and in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements governing sporting events in Nigeria.”
Lawmakers also urged the National Sports Commission to ensure fairness and transparency in its dealings with the boxer and other stakeholders involved in the proposed event.
According to the adopted resolution, “the National Sports Commission should, within its statutory mandate, provide 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 House further stressed that while government institutions may offer regulatory and logistical cooperation, such engagement must not translate into financial commitment.
It resolved that relevant agencies may 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 urged the Federal Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Commission to clearly define the extent of government involvement in privately organised international sporting projects to avoid future disputes and misunderstandings.
The decision effectively sets the framework for Ali’s renewed push to stage the fight in Nigeria, subject to private sponsorship and compliance with regulatory approvals.
Ali, now 70, has spent more than 20 years advocating for the staging of the bout in Nigeria, repeatedly alleging institutional resistance that has stalled the project despite international interest and endorsements from stakeholders within the boxing community.
A former World Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion, Ali remains one of Nigeria’s most recognisable boxing figures, with his proposed record attempt aimed at securing global recognition as the oldest boxer to compete in a professional championship fight.
While Wednesday’s resolution does not guarantee funding support, it represents a formal legislative backing for the project under a private-sector-driven structure, potentially opening a clearer pathway for sponsorship and regulatory engagement.
For supporters of the veteran boxer, the House’s position offers renewed optimism that a long-delayed ambition may yet be realised, provided the necessary financial backing is secured outside government channels.