Aberdeen boxer Lee McAllister lifts lid on stoppage win in Nigeria amid searing heat after 24-hour journey
The 42-year-old stopped former African Boxing Union title challenger Peter Ndebo at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Ndebo's corner pulled him out of the middleweight fight after the second round as McAllister secured his 51st professional win.
Tanzanian fighter Ndebo, 34, boasts a pro record of 12 wins (nine KO), five losses (one KO) and one draw.
Ndebo won his previous fight by first round stoppage in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania in January this year.
Secured as the mercury hit 30C it was McAllister's second victory in four weeks having stopped Ghana's Godwin Cudjoe in Leigh-on-Sea last month.
Rising Aberdeen ring star Charley Brown, who boxes out of McAllister's Assassin Health and Fitness Village, won on points on the same bill in Nigeria.
Multiple title winner McAllister, aka the Aberdeen Assassin, confirmed they have been invited to return to Nigeria to box again.
He said: 'It t took about 24 hours to get to Nigeria.
'I picked Charley up at 2am for a flight at 6am from Aberdeen to Amsterdam.
'At Amsterdam we had a two-and-a-half hour wait before flying to to Charles de Gaulle in Paris.
'Then we had a four-hour wait before the long flight to Nigeria.
'We finally arrived at the hotel early in the morning.
'My original opponent failed his medical on the day of the weigh-in so a replacement was drafted in.
'It was frustrating as the replacement didn't have the experience to be in the ring with me.
'He threw a one-two and as I slipped it I thought this guy can't hit me.
'I held back as I didn't want to hurt him.
'After flying halfway round the world it was frustrating but in boxing anything can happen.
'With him being the underdog it was his chance to make a name for himself but he didn't have anything in the locker.
'I was quite glad when they pulled him out after the second round.'
McAllister has previous experience of fighting in Africa having won the WBO Inter-Continental title in Ghana in April 2022.
He stopped Nigerian Olaide Fijabi in the second round to take that title – which had previously been held by Kell Brook and Frankie Gavin.
McAllister also won the Ghanaian title in March 2021 with a third-round stoppage of Korley Collison in Accra, Ghana.
The Aberdonian also secured a victory against Justice Addy in Accra in October 2021.
McAllister said: 'It was very hot and stuffy when I fought in Nigeria and there was also a thunderstorm.
'Although the fight was indoors the changing rooms were outdoors so I had to walk through the storm to get to the arena.
'The trip to Nigeria was a brilliant experience and we have been invited back.
'I would be more than happy to return as it was a good promotion in a fantastic venue.
'We were a massive hit over there as they loved us.
'Charley won on points over four rounds, winning every round.
'It was a great experience for her as she is still young at 21-years-old.
'Travelling to another country to fight in front of an away crowd is worth five fights at home for Charley due to the experience.'
The Nigerian bout was scheduled to be the final part of a trilogy of fights for McAllister in a hectic month.
Having secured a victory in Leigh-on-Sea last month McAllister was set to fight in Malta on April 11 before boxing in Nigeria.
However the Malta fight fell through.
McAllister made his professional debut 23 years ago in October 2003.
The evergreen fighter, who has a pro record of 51 wins and three losses, aims to enter the ring again this year.
He said: 'On May 31 Charley will fight along with a host of other boxers at the Rich Energy Arena.
'I've had two fights already this year so I will maybe have another two or three in 2025.
'I'll take it one day at a time though because at my age I cannot get too far ahead of myself.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
8 minutes ago
- BBC News
Knoester confident Aberdeen can cope with demands
Defender Mats Knoester, 26, is confident Aberdeen can cope with the demands of domestic and European football this season. (Press and Journal - subscription required), externalRead Monday's Scottish gossip
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Oisin McEntee warns Hearts will be the team everyone hates playing as Derek McInnes fundamental kicks in
The Irishman shone in an all action display as Sunderland were swatted aside at Tynecastle ahead of Aberdeen Premiership opener Oisin McEntee reckons teams will hate facing Hearts after new boss Derek McInnes put the players through a gruelling pre-season. The Jambos are in good shape going into their Premiership opener against Aberdeen a week tonight after building on four League Cup group wins with a 3-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday. The Black Cats have spent in excess of £100million to get ready for their Premier League return. But that financial gulf did not matter as the McInnes ' men gave them a torrid time at Tynecastle with their high-pressing game. That style of play demands fit players and McEntee insists that will not be an issue after coming through his hardest pre-season. The 24-year-old said: 'You don't want teams to enjoy playing against you and we have players in the team who have that bit of quality. 'We have a good mix of players who want to be competitive and win the ball back to let the players go and express themselves. 'A lot of work goes into it on the training ground in terms of that style and it's about fitness as well. 'It's high intensity, it is going to be quite a lot of work. 'But it's paying dividends when it comes to the games. It feels a lot easier than other pre-seasons, in terms of when you go into the game you feel ready, you feel at it. 'It's been really enjoyable. It's probably been my hardest pre-season in terms of double sessions but you need that going into the Premiership season. 'You need to be fit, you need to be strong. I feel really good for it, my body feels really good.' As a midfield enforcer who came in from League Two Walsall at the start of this summer, he's loving the demands put on him by McInnes. McEntee said: 'That's my kind of game when I'm in the middle and I really enjoy that side, the nasty side of it – winning second balls, first balls and just doing my job for the team. 'It's been enjoyable. Wherever the gaffer wants me to play, I'll play – I don't mind. Playing alongside Cammy Devlin in there is great too. 'He's an unbelievable player and it shows with how many games he's played at this club. He's played at this level for a long time, so it's enjoyable having him in there backing me up.' At the top end of the park, Hearts have players who can add some flair in fellow summer signings turned crowd pleasers Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis. McEntee added: 'Those two boys can mix it too, winning the ball back. 'The look of Braga, he's physical, he's winning the ball back on Saturday but has that bit of class too. They've been unbelievable since they came in.' Hearts did not look back after taking the lead in Craig Gordon's testimonial courtesy of Braga 11 minutes in. Lawrence Shankland and Kyziridis found the net after the break with a scoreline that did not flatter the Gorgie outfit. McInnes has added seven recruits this summer and Burkina Faso winger Pierre Landry Kabore is expected to complete his move today. Hearts have also made an offer for Valur Reykjavik midfielder Tomas Bent Magnusson and McEntee insists all the new boys have settled in well. He said: 'That's testament to the recruitment, bringing good people in, first and foremost. We went to Spain and everyone gelled really well. It's been a really enjoyable pre-season getting to know people.'
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Mats Knoester confident after stunning Celtic as Aberdeen star looks to smash Hearts hoodoo
The Dons haven't won at Tynecastle since 2017 and kick off their season in Gorgie against old gaffer Derek McInnes and a team in form Mats Knoester believes Aberdeen can smash their Hearts hoodoo – after crushing their Celtic curse to lift the Scottish Cup. The Dons haven't won at Tynecastle since 2017. But Cup hero Knoester is confident that is about to change when Jimmy Thelin 's men head there for their Premiership opener on Monday night. The 26-year-old Dutch defender stated: 'They're a good team, a big team as well. I think it's going to be an exciting game. 'It's not going to be an easy game away, but I think it's going to be interesting to see. 'Always the first game in the season is interesting to see how the teams are after the pre-season. 'We're aware that it's a tough game, away at Hearts, but I also think the past doesn't really matter. 'And if I can go back to Celtic at Hampden – we don't have a really good record against Celtic and then you win the game. 'So, in football I don't think you should go too much back to the past and then look forward.' Hearts have appointed former Dons boss Derek McInnes and Knoester expects them to be one of their main rivals for third spot. He accepted: 'Yeah, if we look a bit further, I think they're also one of the competitors. 'Of course, as Aberdeen, you're one of the bigger teams, and Hearts is that as well. 'So, in that way, I think we should compete with each other. 'But I prefer to just go week by week. I do that with myself and also with the team and their goals.' Knoester knows that Aberdeen's Cup win will mean they will have a target on their backs this season, but he is confident Thelin's men can handle the extra pressure. Knoester admitted: 'Yeah, it can be. (It's) No problem. If they want to see it like that, it's fine.' The Pittodrie side wrapped up their pre-season with defeats to English Premier League Fulham and Ipswich, who were relegated from the tip flight last term. They lost the games 4-1 and 3-1, respectively, but Knoester believes the games were exactly what Aberdeen needed. He claimed: 'I think that was the goal, to have some big opponents, let's say, like Fulham and now Ipswich, especially going into Europe as well. 'We have a tough season coming, so I think if you want to improve something, you also have to play against the better teams, because they will show you what's needed to be on that level. 'I think one big difference was consistency – you see how consistent they are, and if they do make a mistake, they make up for it. They make a foul or they're back fast enough. 'Also, if there's a rebound, there's somebody there who taps it in, while we just miss it. 'Stuff like that, I think we can learn from that. You're the one that sets a standard for yourself.' Boss Thelin also experimented in the two games and former Ferencvaros stopper Knoester added: 'What we wanted to do is play a high line, maybe a bit more extreme than what we normally do. 'Just to try and create pressure on them and take a bit more risk. 'That's one thing that makes it sometimes a little bit more difficult or challenging to cover every space. 'Obviously we need to adjust a little bit on that towards next Monday.' Guaranteed European group stage football will also put an additional strain on the Aberdeen players. Former boss Barry Robson lost his job when Dons struggled with European games last time but Knoester believes that won't be the case now. He said: 'We trained under really heavy circumstances, in pre-season a lot of high-intensity metres. 'We did everything we could to be ready for that.'
