Nobody knows what the future holds. It’s so interesting to see how people end up with the people they end up with, with the jobs they end up with, and the things they gave up along the way.
Boxing is a very real skill that takes a lot of practice, training, strength, and confidence to do. On today’s list, we’ll be looking at 5 Nigerian celebrities who left their jobs as boxers to pursue a career in entertainment. Without further ado, here they are.
1. Burna Boy
Nigerian superstar singer Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu popularly known as Burna Boy used to be a boxer before he became a singer.
In fact, during an online Zoom call conversation with Nigerian-born New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, Israel Adesanya, Burna Boy revealed that if he wasn’t doing music, he would have been doing boxing instead because he was already doing it before he took up music.
2. Martins Imhangbe
Nigerian born Hollywood actor, Martins Imhangbe most popular for appearing in the TV show Bridgerton also used to be a boxer. On the TV show, he played Will Mondrich who is also a boxer and Martins revealed that he had to unlearn everything he already knew about boxing to get into the role. Speaking about his background in boxing and preparing for this role, Martins said:
I had a personal trainer who I trained with three to four times a week and we did a lot of strength and conditioning. We did a lot of boxing and because boxing back then was different from how boxing is now, I had to unlearn everything I knew about boxing and take on this olden day style of boxing.
3. Taiwo Hassan
Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan also popular known as Ogogo is another celebrity who also used to be a boxer and continues to box in his free time. In an interview with Punch News, Taiwo revealed saying:
I am close to 60 and I am used to getting compliments that I look young; the secret to having this physique is boxing. I used to be a boxer, and I still box in my house to keep my body in shape.
4. Willie XO
Nigerian musician Willie XO popular for songs like Comfort You and Kraze revealed in an interview with the Saturday Tribune that he used to be in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Willie said:
Before music and signing for SBMG (Silent Billionaires Music Group), not many people knew I was into UFC. I was into music for too long and it just didn’t hit the right notes, so I went into UFC. I told my brother and parents, and my mum did not want me to go into UFC because she was worried about me getting knocked out. I wasn’t worried about that but thinking of knocking some people out, make some money and come back to do music because it is my passion.
I was actually billed to have my first fight last year but all that was ended when I got a phone call that some people, from SBMG, wanted to sign me.
5. John Okafor
Finally, Nigerian funny man John Okafor popular known as Mr. Ibu believe it or not used to be a boxer. In an interview with Premium Times, Mr. Ibu opened up about his days as a boxer and why he left. Mr. Ibu said:
I used to be a boxer. I was doing well as a boxer until I went for a championship in Delta State. I was badly pummeled during the fight that I could not even be recognised after the fight. I almost lost an eye because of the punches he dealt me. That was the incident that made me quit boxing.
Wow! Burna Boy, Willie XO, Martins Imhangbe, Taiwo Hassan, and Mr. Ibu all used to be boxers. Which one of them surprised you the most? Let me know by leaving me a comment on my Facebook post. I’d love to hear what you think.
