Bob Alagoro

By Oparaugo Ngozi

Wednesday, 27 April, 2022 will for sure be a special day in the life of one of Nigeria’s boxing legends, Prince Bob Keffi Alagoro, who clocks 64 years.

Bob, undefeated and unbeaten West African super welterweight boxing champion, believes that going spiritual to celebrate his 64 years on Wednesday would be the best thing he would give his maker.

“I will turn 64 years on Wednesday and I choose to celebrate this at Canaan Land with the Winners’ family. This is very symbolic in my life because looking back to what the Lord has done for me in Winners I would forever remain grateful to God. I remembered the prophecy of Mummy Faith Oyedepo in 1978, she prayed for me thus: “I pray that you will become an unbeatable, untouchable and undefeatable boxer from today, as I am talking to you, whatever you have decided to be in life you will surely be in the name of Jesus. I wish you good luck. You are a winner, and you will continue to win in Jesus name.” I can see that the prophecy has been speaking in my life till today as I remain an undefeated and unbeaten champion,” the Badagry-born boxing champion said in an interview.

“I want every winner to join me to celebrate this age. I believe that irrespective of our religion or denominations, we are all winners. So, all winners must celebrate my new age with me on 27 April,” he said.

Alagoro worships at the Winners’ Chapel, Zone 5, Obasa Estate, Badagry expressway in Lagos where he has been working in the vineyard of God in the last 10 years.

While recalling how he started his pugilist trade, Alagoro, said that he started his boxing career as an amateur at the age of 16, before joining the defunct Post and Telecommunications Department (P&T) in 1980, first as a gateman and later as a craftsman in the engineering department and technical service division of the public service corporation which later became NIPOST.

“I have a successful career in boxing and I think the prophecy of Mummy Oyedepo really contributed immensely to my fast rising in the profession.

He won a silver medal in boxing at the first P&T National Sports Festival in Benin City, the then Bendel State. He won gold medal in boxing in the Kaduna 1981 P&T Sports Festival. He was decorate the boxer of the competition.

He was the Lagos State amateur champion in 1980. He represented the state at a national tournament hosted by Lagos in 1981 where he became the National Super welterweight champion.

The Prince of Topo later turned professional in 1984, and went on to win the National Super Welterweight Championship in 1986 after winning eleven undefeated fights, but lost same (Super welterweight belt) later that year. He reclaimed the title in 1987 when he defeated Lukman Saheed in round 9 of 12 rounds title fight.

“This was the day I met the world’s great champion of our time, Bashiru Lawrence Ali, who we all know as Bash Ali; someone I respect so much because God has used him for me” Alagoro said.

The legend became the first boxer in sub saharan Africa to fight and donate all his purse to the motherless home headquarters in Lagos, the S.O.S Village, Isolo, Lagos in 1993.

In 1994, he became the West African Super Welterweight champion by beating the former champion, Bensa Apotifi of Burkina Faso, while in 1997, he defended the title against Bob Rasheed of Ghana who he beat in round 2.

He later retired in December of that year.

“I can only thank God for my life and for what God is doing in my life at Winners’ Chapel. I am a testimony of Winners’ Chapel that at 64, I can still train every day and take care of the vineyard of the Lord. I am more than conqueror,” he said.