By Clarkson Ogo, Sports Editor
Nigeria is endowed with various talented sportsmen and women making startling records. Recently, another Nigerian, Cornel Thompson aka (Marine boxer), 25, from Bomadi LGA of Delta state has made record in the guineas book of record as among one of the four champions ( king of the ring) emerged in the just concluded deadly ring fight tagged AKO ( African knockout series) with participants across Africa held in Lagos.
Daily Watch took him up in a brief Facebook messenger interview on his victory in the recent championship.
How do we know you and give us an insight about AKO?
I am Cornel Thompson aka (The Marine boxer) the Eleleba, the king of MMA. I just finished AKO African knockout tv show. I am from Delta state in Bomadi LGA. It was a wonderful fighting show. We were 14 fighters in the camp, divided into two teams seven figters each team. Team Steal and team white wolves. I was in team Steal. And the madness began. My first fight was against Jubril Baba, aka the venom, In team white wolves,My weight was 75kg and Jubril weight 77kg. 2018 national sport festival. He won gold medal. So I was very conscious of his moves. The fight lasted for the complete three rounds, I won all the rounds with good clear points, he is a great fighters, but I won him by unanimous decision. Then I meet Emmanuel, AKA the fearless Dragon, for quarter final, whom won his first fight by technical knockout for second rounds. His weight is79kg while mine is 75kg.But i won him for first round by technical knockout. Then I meet Daniel the big shark on my semi final, his weight is 81kg. The guy that won Didi AKA the Beast by knockout on the third rounds. At this point I know business just got serious because I know the person I am about to face on is known as the octagon,a dangerous fighter. I had draw with him three knockouts skill on standing and three knockout skills on ground work.
What happened during your fight that you conceded defeat?
Yes, I had health chalenges. One day,I just woke up from sleep on a fateful day in d camp. I notice my eyes were dazed and one object was appearing into two, my eyes were turning me. I couldn’t even look at something due to headache and dizziness. I was feeling very weak. I could not eat food because I had no appetite.
They invited the doctor to check up on me. The doctor said I had a malaria. He gave me injection on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with some prescriptions to be taking along. And my fight was fixed on Thursday.
Then, I realized I have lost my semi final automatically. I told my team mates I don’t have any strength to fight that I will just walk in to the ring and declare my opponent winner. We talked with the boss of AKO to see if they can postpone the fight to at list on Monday to allow me recover just a little. But the AKO rules didn’t allow that. It is because in any fixed fighting show. If your fight has been fixed, you can’t give any excuse, be it injury, accident, sickness or anything. Either you fight or you declare your opponent automatic winner.
So, what happened, did you go to the ring and face your opponent, despite you are medically confirmed unfit?
My team mates encouraged me to fight. . I climbed the ring on same week Thursday with Big shark. It was a brutal and interesting fight but I raised my hand and declared him winner for four minutes and 25 seconds for the first round,even though my mates pressurized me to continue to fight with bad health. His can you fight when you could not see the blows of your opponents clearly as a result of bad health? I felt my life is important. He who runs away must stay alive to fight again. I can’t breath well anymore and my heart was burning me seriously.
How did you feel conceding victory to your opponent without a struggle?
I was really demoralized for losing the semi final, but such is life. Then, third position is what left for me to fight. I wanted to give up the third position, because my nose was broken on my third fight and injuries I sustained on my second fight, But after thinking about my coach, my team, my family, my fans and my career. I climbed the ring with Segun the Machine gun with my unhealed wound, his weight was 82kg. I won first round, I was Steal winning the second round but I did a mistake and enter neck shock then I tapped him. He won me by my neck shock. I came out 4th position out of 14 fighters. It was a lovely fighting show, but the boss said next edition is going to be 74kg weight, which is my weight. So, I am going to nurse my injuries and continue training for next edition. My coach, coach Paul Umah and my champions gym fellow fighters.
What is your target in the ring in the future?
Yes, I have receive beating and I have also beating and won several fights. My prayer to God is to lead me to the right promoters who will take to UFC to fight in the global ring where I hope to become the champion in the world in MMA. My spirit is high to make my family proud, make Nigeria and Africa proud on global fighting.
Any message to Nigerian youths
Yes, the youths of Nigeria should avoid crime, avoid drugs. They should be focused and consistent in any thing they do. Rome was not built in a day. If you do not have it today, keep your faith in God, work hard in any field you choose, God will make a way for you. Remember, there is no short cut to greatness.
