Nigerian punching prodigy taking a swing at stardom

In 2016, the kid fighter was presented with a World Boxing Council (WBC) belt after emerging as the Most Promising Boxer at WBC Cares, an exhibition event in Lagos featuring at least 40 young boxers, aged 5-16.

Adegbite said he has every confidence in Adekoya, who still has the same passion for the sport that he had when he first tried on a pair of boxing gloves, about seven years ago.

"Sultan came on his own to one of the training sessions outside my house," the coach said.

"He was just walking on the streets when he saw us. He was 5 years old back then.

"He ran up to us and picked up my gloves without permission. He started throwing jabs and hitting people."

Adekoya was told to bring his parents along with him. "I was surprised to see him arrive early in the morning with his parents," Adegbite said.

"They agreed that he could learn to box. Since then he started training."