Boxer Larry “The Natural” Ekundayo was formally presented with the Sky Prizefighter Trophy at the Nigeria High Commission by His Excellency Dr Dalhatu Tafida, after a recent scintillating display in London where he won the tournament. His Excellency was proud to present the trophy to Larry after he was brought to the High Commission’s attention by boxing fans Ben Gray and Paul Miller a little over two months ago.
Larry Ekunadayo
Despite only entering the event with a fight record of 2-0, The Natural incredibly won the Sky Betfair PrizeFighter tournament, defeating three vastly more experienced men in one night. To make this feat even more astonishing, he was fighting as a Light Middleweight, which is the weight class above his normal Welterweight division. In his first fight he actually beat a world ranked Middleweight contender!
Thirty year-old Larry took up boxing to be able to defend himself against bullies at the age of twelve. However, he found that he was a natural and subsequently became Nigerian Bantamweight champion in 1998, qualified for the All African games in 1999, was the Welterweight National Champion in 2000, won a gold medal in an international tournament in Germany in 2002 (winning the best boxer of the tournament), reached the quarter finals in the 2002 Commonwealth games and was London ABA Champion in 2006 and 2007.
As a professional he is now undefeated in five fights – winning two inside the distance. Despite being a natural welterweight, he has fought all his pro fights at light middleweight, since he can find no opponent willing to fight him at his own weight.
To win Prizefighter he had to beat three highly acclaimed fighters in one night. First up was world-ranked middleweight Craig McEwan, who he outpointed in spite of a two weight division disadvantage.
In the semi-final he fought Kris Carslaw, who was in the British top ten at light middleweight. Again Larry out-boxed him, winning on points.
The final matched Larry up with Terry Carruthers, a far bigger and more experienced fighter, who was formerly a super middleweight and had over 30 fights to his name. The Natural put on an effortless display and wowed the crowd with his boxing skills, eventually stopping his man in the final round to win the coveted Betfair Prizefighter title in only his 5th fight.
Larry is now preparing to fight at his natural weight for the first time professionally against the vastly more experienced former British Welterweight Champion, David Barnes at the York hall, Bethnal Green on February 1.
His Excellency took the opportunity to wish another UK-based Nigerian boxer, WBO International Light Middleweight Champion, King Davidson, good luck in his forthcoming title defence at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos. King Davidson Emenogu, who will defend his WBO crown on December 26, is currently also IBF Pan Pacific Light Middle Weight Champion, WBO African Champion, PABA Champion, and Australian Champion.
Both boxers were visibly proud to be presented to the High Commissioner to London and other dignitaries and to have the support of their fellow countrymen as they attempt to win world titles in the next 12-18 months.
