Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi
The Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, said he was supporting a northern presidency in the 2023 elections because they had been marginalised with the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010.
According to him, it will not be fair and just should power return to the South in 2023, even though the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), would have done eight years.
Dokpesi, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, stated these in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Saturday as part of activities marking his 70th birthday.
He said his support for northern presidency was in line with PDP agreement during the party’s convention in 2006.
But ironically, Dokpesi said he was also canvassing for the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for President in 2023 because they had been childhood friends.
He said, “Let me tell you that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, before he became governor, when he was still in Mobil, you know the Headquarters of Mobil is just directly in front of my house in Lagos. As young men, we ate and drank together; we were close friends before he became governor.
“He is a philanthropist; he is kind-hearted. He is supportive of the ordinary person available, and he has brought about bringing hope to people. For 2023, I wish him the very best in whatever he puts his hands on. So, it has nothing to do with politics; it is a matter of the good relationship we have always had and I cherish it and I want to keep it.”
While insisting that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan won the 2015 election, Dokpesi said he did not believe that he (Jonathan) would join the APC as being rumoured and had not told anybody.
Delegates from the Taliban and the United States have held “candid and professional” talks in the Qatari capital, according to a US official, with the two-day discussions focusing on security and “terrorism” concerns, the rights of women and girls as well as evacuations from Afghanistan.
The weekend talks in Doha were the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides since the Taliban took over Afghanistan on August 15.
“The discussions were candid and professional with the US delegation reiterating that the Taliban will be judged on its actions, not only its words,” Ned Price, spokesman for the US Department of State, said on Sunday.
“The US delegation focused on security and terrorism concerns and safe passage for US citizens, other foreign nationals and our Afghan partners, as well as on human rights, including the meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of Afghan society,” he said.
“The two sides also discussed the United States’ provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people.”
Al Jazeera’s Natasha Ghoneim, reporting from Doha, said that the Afghan delegation had described the two-day talks as “positive”.
“They hope it paves the way for recognition of the Afghan government – not only by the United States, but the international community,” she said.
The Afghan delegation, led by the Afghan acting foreign minister, Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi, also came to Doha seeking financial assistance that comes with any sort of international recognition, she said.
The Afghan delegation was asking the US to end economic sanctions and to “unfreeze” some $10bn worth of assets, she added.
The Taliban announced its all-male Cabinet last month, but it has struggled to govern amid a liquidity crisis after it was cut off from the international financial institutions, such as IMF and World Bank.
The group has said it needs to pay government employees and provide services to Afghans amid a looming economic and humanitarian crisis.
Neither the US nor the Taliban have said if any agreements were reached during the talks.
“What concessions were made to get financial assistance, what deals might be made … we don’t know as of now,” said Ghoneim.
The Taliban took back power in Afghanistan in August, almost 20 years after they were ousted in a US-led invasion for refusing to hand over al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US.
Ahead of the weekend talks, US officials told the Reuters news agency that the US would press the Taliban to release kidnapped American Mark Frerichs. Another top priority would be to hold the Taliban to their commitment not to allow Afghanistan to again become a hotbed for al-Qaeda or other armed groups.
The U.S. officials said the talks were a continuation of “pragmatic engagements” with the Taliban and “not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy” to the group.
Washington and other Western countries are grappling with difficult choices as a severe humanitarian crisis looms large in Afghanistan.
They are trying to work out how to engage with the Taliban without granting the group the legitimacy it seeks, while ensuring humanitarian aid flows into the country.
While the Taliban has signalled flexibility on evacuations, it has said there would be no cooperation with the US on containing armed groups in Afghanistan.
The US-Taliban agreement of 2020, which was negotiated by the administration of former President Donald Trump, had demanded that the Taliban break ties with “terrorist” groups and guarantee Afghanistan would not again harbour “terrorists” who could attack Washington and its allies.
In turn, the Afghan group has demanded that its senior leaders be taken off the “terror list”, accusing the US of violating the Doha agreement, which paved the way for the US withdrawal.
Since the Taliban took power, the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-K), an ISIL (ISIS) affiliate, has ramped up attacks in the country, particularly targeting the Shia Hazara community.
ISKP has claimed a suicide attack on a Shia mosque during Friday prayers in which dozens of people were killed.
Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has sent a passionate appeal to members of the National Assembly to save the country the trouble that will result from the proposal to make direct primaries compulsory.
Saraki, in a statement yesterday by Head of his Media Office, Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that the decision to include a provision in the proposed Electoral Act, which makes direct primaries compulsory for parties would only create new problem while trying to solve another.
He added that many of the political parties lack the necessary infrastructure to successfully conduct direct primaries at all levels, while the attempt would lead to litigations that might jeopardise the general election.
“I feel compelled to, once again, appeal to senators and members of the House of Representatives on the proposed Electoral Act because I realised that while the focus of the general public has been on how to get the electronic transmission of results into the proposed law, another potential problem that may clog our electoral process is included in the Electoral Act – provision on direct primaries.
“The two options on the table are to make direct primaries compulsory for all the parties or to leave it open for parties to decide. We should take the latter option. Let us leave each party to decide how it wants to source its candidates. Past experience shows that direct primary will lead to a crisis, if forced on the parties. We saw how people sent from the national headquarters to conduct primary elections stayed in hotel rooms and conjured up figures, which were announced as the result of direct primary elections,” he stated.
According to him, the direct primaries option will also put pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose officials must monitor all the primaries.
Saraki added: “The direct primaries provision may work for us in the future, but not now that we are not prepared for it, as the primaries may hold next June. That is just nine months from now. The time for adequate and necessary preparations towards direct primaries is even not there. There will be so many litigations arising from the process. Do we have the time to hold crisis-free primaries and not create booby-traps for the general elections?
“My appeal goes to all members of the National Assembly. Please, do not let us take a position on critical issues based on partisan and personal consideration. Let us put Nigeria first and act in the best interest of our country. During our time in the National Assembly, whenever we were confronted with issues like this, we just appealed and prevailed on members to put the nation first before any other consideration. I believe the same appeal should go to the present federal lawmakers.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the determination of his administration to uplift the quality of life of Nigerians through aggressive implementation of humane and gender responsive budget as well as security measures to check criminal activities in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president presented the 2022 Appropriation Bill for an aggregate expenditure of N16.39 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly (NASS) on Thursday.
The president described the 2022 Appropriation which was earlier approved for presentation to NASS by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Oct. 6, as Budget of Economic Growth and Sustainability.
According to him, the 2022 budget is also the first in the nation’s history, where Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were clearly advised on gender responsive budgeting.
The President seized the opportunity of the budget presentation to provide an overview of global and domestic developments in the country.
While observing the COVID-19 protocol during his presentation, the president also gave a summary of his administration’s achievements and its plans for the next fiscal year.
President Buhari stressed that these were exceptional times for Nigeria.
He said: “The grim realities of COVID-19 and its lethal variants are still upon us. From President to pauper, the virus does not discriminate.
“This is why our country still maintains its COVID-19 guidelines and protocols in place to protect citizens and stop the spread of this disease.’’
Buhari had earlier returned to Abuja on Oct. 5 after attending the inauguration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia for a second five-year term in office.
The Nigerian leader was in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopia capital, on Sunday where he delivered a goodwill message at the inauguration event held at the historic Meskel Square.
NAN reports that other African leaders at the event included the Presidents of Djibouti, Kenya, South Sudan, Senegal, Somalia, Uganda and the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Also while in Addis Ababa, Buhari had on Oct. 5 met with President Salva Kiir of South Sudan where he expressed Nigeria’s readiness to assist South Sudan to achieve political and economic stability.
The president assured the full support of Nigeria to all efforts to bring long-term stability and prosperity to the continent.
On Oct. 6, the Federal Government warned that it may be forced to impose State of Emergency in Anambra to ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federal, Abubakar Malami, gave the warning when he fielded questions from State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The meeting was presided over by Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.
NAN observed that stakeholders in Anambra project including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had raised alarm over the upsurge in cases of violent attacks on individuals and government facilities in Anambra as the governorship election in the state draws closer.
The minister, however, threatened that the federal government may declare a state of emergency, if the security situation in the state did not improve.
Buhari also granted audience to a team from ExxonMobil Corporation led by Liam Mallon, its President on Upstream Oil and Gas, at State House Abuja, on Wednesday.
At the meeting, the president urged operators in the petroleum industry to take advantage of the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to promote their investments in the oil and gas sector.
Also on Oct. 6, Buhari met behind closed doors with former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The agenda of the meeting was unknown to newsmen, while no official statement was issued on the outcome of the meeting.
Jonathan, who is ECOWAS Special Envoy to the Republic of Mali, had been updating Buhari on efforts by West African leaders to restore stability to the country.
The president on Oct. 7 also met behind closed door with Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
NAN observed that the meeting came barely 24 hours after the Federal Government had threatened to invoke emergency rule as part of measures to address security challenges and safeguard electoral process in the state.
Obiano, who spoke to State House correspondents at the end of the closed door meeting, said he updated the President on security challenges facing the state, saying bandits from neigbouring states are responsible for the killings and disruption of public peace in the state.
The governor, however, described the call for the declaration of State of Emergency in Anambra to address security challenges in the state as “very unfortunate’’.
On Oct. 8, the president, who also doubles as Ministry of Petroleum Resources, received the certificate of incorporation of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
He noted that with the certification of the company the country expected nothing less from the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, and the Chief Finance Officer, “than the realisation of a global national oil company that this nation desires and deserves”.
Under the recently signed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), was expected to transform to a limited liability company, a fact that has now been accomplished.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was also in London, the United Kingdom, where he participated at different meetings including the High-Level United Nations event on the Energy Transition plan in Africa with special focus on Nigeria.
The meetings included first, a closed-door session with COP26 President-Designate, Mr Alok Sharma, a cabinet rank British Minister and the Chair of the UK Government’s COP26 Energy Transition Council (ETC) at Whitehall.
He was also at an interaction with the academic community at Imperial College followed by meetings of the Global Energy Alliance and presentations on the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan and Nigeria’s Integrated Energy Plan.
Osinbajo observed at Imperial College that Africa as a continent was home to the world’s youngest fastest growing population and in order to create jobs and enable climate-smart industrialisation, “the scale and quality of electricity services must increase significantly”.
Also on Friday, Buhari assented to the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (Amendment) Bill 2021 to boost agricultural activities in the country.
The president, who assented to the bill before his recent visit to Ethiopia, said the bill was in consonance with the commitment of his administration to diversify the economy with agriculture playing a critical role.
”With the amendment, the Council is expected to play a crucial part in coordinating research efforts in the agricultural sector towards achieving food sufficiency and security in the nation,” he added.
Buhari also approved the establishment of the Federal College of Agriculture, Kirikasamma, and the Federal College of Education (Special), Birnin Kudu, both in Jigawa.
NAN reports that a 55-minute documentary, titled: ”The Buhari Effect: Undeniable Achievements”, was aired on Channels Television on Oct. 9 at 7p.m.
The documentary, which is in view of some milestone of the administration of Buhari, would also be aired on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Buhari ended the week at the Passing Out Parade for Cadets of 68 Regular Course (Army, Navy and Air Force) in Kaduna, Kaduna State, where he pledged that the Federal Government would do everything within the ambit of the law to protect Nigerians from the activities of criminals.
The criminal activities, according to the President, include insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and politically motivated killings.
The president said that more equipment had been received from some friendly countries to improve the security operations in Nigeria.
According to him, the government remains focused on its priority of improving security, bolstering the economy and fighting corruption.
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has written a letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), threatening to sue the AGF if he fails to recover $62bn from international oil companies as ordered by the Supreme Court.
Falana said this in a letter on Sunday titled, ‘Request for Compliance with Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in suit No SC. 964/2016 between Akwa Ibom & Two Others v Attorney-General of the Federation’.
The letter was written on behalf of Prof. Omotoye Olorode and Jaye Gaskia of the People’s Alternative Political Movement.
It reads in part, “Our clients have instructed us to remind you that the Federal Government has not enforced the above mentioned judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on October 20, 2018.
“In the said judgment, the apex court had directed the Federal Government to immediately take steps to recover all revenues lost to oil-exploring and exploiting companies due to wrong profit-sharing formula since August 2003.
“Based on the aforesaid judgment, you did request for the immediate payment of the sum of $62bn owed by the six international oil companies with joint operating agreements with the NNPC, namely Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, TotalElf Nigeria and Pan Ocean Oil Company.”
Falana stated that rather than ensure that the judgment was enforced, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, claimed that government would not be able to recover the money.
Sylva was quoted as saying, “Well, we have started discussions. Let us consider that as a lost opportunity, the money was not in a cupboard, they have taken it. Nobody can bring out that kind of money. I mean we can’t get $62bn.
“We can, maybe, get something from them, but not $62bn. It’s an opportunity we have lost. We have already started discussions with them, but what is clear is that it is a lost opportunity, really.”
The activist asked the AGF to ensure that the said sum of $62bn is recovered from the oil companies and paid into the Federation Account without any further delay.
He said that if Malami refused to take action, a suit would be instituted in court forcing him to do so.
The letter further reads, “However, if you fail or refuse to accede to the request of our client, we shall not hesitate to approach the Federal High Court to seek an order to compel you to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court in accordance with Section 287(1) of the Constitution, which provides that “the decisions of the Supreme court shall be enforced in any part of the federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.”
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has gone on his first outing since his return from the United Kingdom (UK) last Friday night.
The former Lagos State governor, on Sunday, reunited with his political associates and protégés at a welcome-back event and prayer hosted by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the State House in Marina.
Tinubu was received at 2:45 pm by Sanwo-Olu in company with his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde.
A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, said the event was attended by all elected office holders and political appointees in Lagos.
The attendees included the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.
Members of the State Executive Council, Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and council chairmen were also in attendance.
Tinubu’s quiet return to Nigeria had been reported on Friday after spending months overseas for medical care.
This medium had earlier reported his planned return to a “grand welcome” organised by his political associates on Sunday.
However, due to his inability to stand the rigours of a physical rally, the ex-Lagos governor quietly entered into the country on Friday instead of Sunday (today), shunning any pre-arranged fanfare.
It had been reported that a grand welcome was being arranged at the Nigeria Police College in Ikeja, Lagos for the politician.
However, top sources confirmed his ‘early’ return to SaharaReporters on Friday.
“Tinubu has quietly returned tonight. He returned quietly but can’t stand the rigours of a physical rally.
“He arrived on a Falcon jet with registration number VP-CBT. The tracking for the jet is blocked on aviation tracking platforms,” a source had disclosed.
Tinubu, clad in a dark grey kaftan and a blue cap on Sunday, said he was highly elated to return to the country after his three-month medical tourism.
He said the prayer event was an emotional one for him, adding that he was overwhelmed by good wishes from Nigerians while he was away.
Tinubu said: “I’m a little emotional now but I’m happy. God is the giver of life and the only one who can take life. And he (God) says if I grant you power and the privilege in this life; I am the only one who can take it from you if you don’t use it in the way and manner that promotes humanity. God can give power to anyone he wills.
“It is the same God that has spared us till today and has given us the privilege. I give glory to God, because I’m standing before you hale, hearty and well. Today is a day of joy for me, having fixed today for this great event. We are here giving praises to God. May God bless all of you in attendance. I am grateful. I cannot say more than that today. Thank you all.”
Sanwo-Olu described Tinubu’s return as good news for his supporters across the country, noting that the APC leader had been rejuvenated with renewed vigour for his next political move.
He said: “We have countless reasons to be grateful to God for bringing Asiwaju back home, fully rejuvenated. Since Friday when our leader and father came back, it has been a joyful moment for the teeming residents of Lagos, his supporters and Nigerians across the country. We give glory to God who brought you (Tinubu) back with sound health and stronger vigour.
“On behalf of all political office holders, party leaders and faithful, we welcome our leader back and we give praises to God on his behalf that the intention of evil-minded people who spread malicious rumour against our leader did not materialise. This event shows Asiwaju is healthy and possesses more energy to embark on his next move in politics.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), has said that it will not rest on its oars at ensuring inclusive economic growth and sustainable development through the introduction of the-naira, which will soon be launched.
Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Osita Nwanisobi, made this known at the ongoing 16th Abuja International Trade Fair hosted by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (ACCI) at the weekend in Abuja.
He said the operation of the e-naira is safe, easily accessible, digitised and could be easily accessed through banks and other payment platforms.
Nwanisobi who took journalists on a ‘Special Day with the CBN’ tour of the CBN trade fair pavilion, said while banks and other financial services providers would be involved in the distribution of the currency, the apex bank will be the central authority in terms of minting and issuance of the e-naira.
“In the coming days, the CBN will be unveiling the Central Bank Digital Currency (CNDC), the e-naira. The e-naira is the digital version of Nigeria’s legal tender with the same value as the fiat naira, (physical naira notes),” he said.
He further explained that the bank has continued to ensure robust, safe, reliable, credible and efficient payments system in the country through the revision of the Mobile Money Operations, (MMOs), and has raised the Loan to Deposit Ratio, (LDR), from 60 percent to 65 percent to encourage more lending by banks.
A Franciscan nun from Colombia kidnapped by jihadists in Mali more than four years ago has been freed, Mali’s presidency has said.
Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez was taken hostage on February 7, 2017 in southern Mali near the border with Burkina Faso where she had been working as a missionary.
A statement on the presidential Twitter account paid tribute to her “courage and bravery” along with photos of the nun taken after her release Saturday.
“I thank the Malian authorities, the president, all the Malian authorities, for all the efforts you’ve made to liberate me, may God bless you, may God bless Mali,” Sister Gloria said in images broadcast on state television showing her with Mali’s interim president Colonel Assimi Goita and the archbishop of Bamako Jean Zerbo.
“I am very happy, I stayed healthy for five years, thank God,” the nun said, smiling and wearing a yellow robe.
Her liberation had been the fruit of “four years and eight months of the combined effort of several intelligence services”, the presidency said.
In the official statement, Goita assured that “efforts are under way” to secure the release of all those still being held in Mali.
Archbishop Zerbo said Sister Gloria was “doing well”.
“We prayed a lot for her release. I thank the Malian authorities and other good people who made this release possible,” the archbishop said.
Sister Gloria, 59, was kidnapped near Koutiala, 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of Bamako. She had worked as a missionary for six years in the parish of Karangasso with three other nuns.
According to one of her colleagues, Sister Carmen Isabel Valencia, she offered herself in place of two younger nuns the kidnappers were preparing to take.
“She is a woman of a very particular human quality, down to earth……moved by the love of the poor,” Sister Carmen said.
In Colombia, her brother Edgar Narvaez said he was very emotional after receiving news of her release.
“She is in good health, thank God. They sent me pictures and she looks well,” he told AFP.
In a letter sent last July by the Red Cross to her brother, Sister Gloria said she was held by “a group of GSIM”, the Al-Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims, the largest jihadist alliance in the Sahel.
A source close to the negotiations to release her told AFP she had not been ill-treated during her captivity and during that time she had learned the Koran.
“The negotiations lasted months, years,” said the source, without giving further details.
Bound for Rome
An official at Bamako airport, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the nun had arrived in the Malian capital on Saturday evening from where she was due to fly to Rome. Her departure from Bamako was confirmed by the city’s archdiocese.
In Colombia, Vice-President Marta Lucia Ramirez — who is also foreign minister — said she was “very happy” at Sister Gloria’s release, which she attributed to the work of the government and also stressed the “humanitarian efforts of the French government to contribute to this success”.
National Police Director, Jorge Luis Vargas, also welcomed her release.
“Today is very good news for Colombia, but also for the national police for all the efforts made over the years to secure the safe release of our compatriot,” he said.
Vargas said meetings had been held with several European and African ambassadors to try to secure the nun’s release.
“With Interpol, and with other international organisations, we have always sought to bring those responsible to justice.”
There were irregular reports about the nun over the years, including at the beginning of 2021, when two Europeans who managed to escape captivity reported that she was well.
Then in March, her brother received proof that she was still alive, passed on from the Red Cross.
It was a letter written in capital letters “because she always used capital letters”, containing the names of their parents and ending with her signature, he told AFP earlier this year.
Mali has been struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency that first emerged in the north of the country in 2012, and which has since spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
Kidnappings, once rare, have become more common in recent years as a security crisis has deepened in Mali, particularly in the centre of the former French colony.
French journalist Olivier Dubois was abducted on April 8 in northern Mali by jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
Dubois, who worked with several French news outlets, said in a hostage video that GSIM had abducted him.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said Nigeria was facing politically motivated killings across the country, while vowing that the government would strive to eliminate all forms of violent crimes.
The President said this in Kaduna State adding that his administration would continue to do everything within the ambit of law to stamp out heinous crimes, creating fears among the citizenry.
He gave the assurance during the Passing Out Parade of 68 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
The President said, “As you’re aware, our beloved nation Nigeria, is facing many security challenges at this period.
“We continue to face security threats and violent crimes such as insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and politically motivated killings which threaten our national integration.
“It’s pertinent to state in this regard that we have received new equipment in our fight against any form of insecurity from our friendly countries.”
Buhari said that the assets would be deployed to accelerate the fight against insecurity in all parts of the country.
“It’s against this backdrop that we introduced a new Landing Ship Tank early this year to replace the first set of naval ship tanks which were decommissioned by the Nigerian Navy.
“The introduction of the Landing Ship Tank is expected to bolster the Navy’s Sealift capability and promote our global maritime commerce.
“The action will also bolster peace and safety within the Gulf of Guinea and our maritime neighbourhood,” the President said.
Tyson Fury retained his WBC heavyweight crown on Saturday with a spectacular 11th-round knockout of Deontay Wilder as their trilogy fight delivered a boxing classic.
In an epic battle in front of 15,820 fans at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, both fighters were knocked down on multiple occasions in a contest full of improbable twists and turns as the two rivals traded blows.
Fury looked to have gained the upper hand after flooring Wilder in the third round, only for the 35-year-old from Alabama to respond with two knockdowns of Fury that had the English champion clinging on desperately in the fourth.
But it was the bigger, heavier Fury — landing the cleaner and more damaging blows — who finished the stronger, and the champion had Wilder down once again in the 10th with a right hook.
Wilder responded bravely to that knockdown by wobbling Fury in return.
But the brutal energy-sapping nature of the fight, and Fury’s relentless physicality, finally took its toll on Wilder in the 11th.
With the American exhausted and on the ropes, Fury landed the decisive combination.
A right uppercut scrambled Wilder’s senses before Fury crashed a right hook into his opponent’s temple that sent the challenger tumbling to the canvas, barely conscious.
‘Don’t Ever Doubt Me’
“Don’t ever doubt me,” Fury said afterwards. “When the chips are down I will always deliver.
“I give him the glory for the victory. He’s a tough man — he took some big shots tonight.
“It was a great fight tonight as well as any trilogy in history.”
Saturday’s bout was the third instalment of an acrimonious rivalry between Fury, the trash-talking self-styled “Gypsy King” and Wilder, the heavy-handed knockout specialist regarded as one of the most destructive punchers in the sport.
Fury had scored a seventh-round knockout of Wilder in their second fight 20 months ago, after the two men shared a controversial draw in their first meeting in Los Angeles in 2018.
Both fighters entered the ring on Saturday at their heaviest ever fighting weights, with Fury tipping the scales at 277lbs (125.6 kg) and Wilder at 238lbs.
Wilder’s camp said the extra bulk was designed to give their fighter a quick early rounds knockout.
But although Wilder started aggressively, working Fury’s midsection in the opening two rounds, he was unable to find the precision to hurt the elusive Fury, who by contrast repeatedly scored with his right.
The fight appeared to have swung decisively in Fury’s favour in the third, when he landed a left hook and a pair of right uppercuts to put Wilder down. The American finished the round dazed and on the ropes with Fury poised to go in for the kill.
But incredibly Wilder rallied in the fourth round to put Fury on the canvas twice, once with his feared straight right and again with a right hook.
This time it was Fury who seemed to be in peril, but the champion was able to clear his head and survive.
Fury then recovered to dominate the middle rounds, repeatedly stunning Wilder who showed incredible resilience in the face of the onslaught.
Yet just when it looked as if the denouement could come at any moment, Wilder summoned another rally in the ninth round, rocking Fury once again with an enormous right hand.
But momentum shifted back to Fury in the 10th as he opened up with a devastating exchange to floor Wilder. Again the American somehow summoned the strength to fight back, rocking Fury near the end of the round as the fans roared their appreciation.
Wilder’s resistance was finally broken in the 11th round though as Fury’s final combination settled an enthralling battle.
