Street Rumble 2: Ani, Olowu set for long-awaited Ajegunle showdown

Michael “Hitman” Ani and two-time West African Welterweight Champion Taiwo “Gentle Boy” Olowu will headline the second edition of Street Rumble, scheduled for 13 December, at Maracana Square, Ajegunle, Lagos.

The super-welterweight bout, confirmed by promoter Match Makers Sports International, will bring together two Nigerian fighters whose first scheduled meeting ended before the opening bell.

Ani and Olowu were initially booked to fight on 20 April, 2025, but the bout was called off after Ani suffered an arm injury during training camp about a week before the contest.

The injury forced Ani into a lengthy rehabilitation period and denied fans a much-anticipated clash between the former national title challenger and Olowu, a two-time West African welterweight champion.

More than a year later, the two fighters will finally have an opportunity to settle the contest in the ring.

The fight is expected to pit Ani’s aggressive style against the experience of Olowu, who has built a reputation through his success at regional level.

The event will also feature former American heavyweight champion Ray Mercer as a special ringside guest.

Mercer, who won Olympic gold in the heavyweight division at the 1988 Seoul Games, later captured the WBO heavyweight title during his professional career.

READ ALSO: Boxing legend Ray Mercer to attend The Street Rumble Season 2 in Lagos

Match Makers Sports International said the headline bout would form part of a wider fight card, with details of the undercard expected to be announced later.

Promoter and CEO of Match Makers Sports International, Mike Adeyemo, said the Ani-Olowu contest was a fight fans had been waiting to see.

“This is the fight the fans have been waiting for, and the tension has reached a boiling point,” Mr Adeyemo said.

He added that the main event would be followed by further announcements on the undercard as preparations for the event continue.

The organisers are positioning the second edition of Street Rumble as a grassroots boxing event, with Ajegunle providing the setting for the December contest.

For Ani, the bout offers an opportunity to return to the spotlight after the injury that disrupted his previous meeting with Olowu.

For Olowu, it represents a chance to reinforce his regional credentials against a former national title challenger.

With the date and venue confirmed, attention will now turn to the completion of the fight card and the final preparations for what promises to be a closely watched Nigerian boxing contest.