Nigerian upstart hoping for shot at major crown

Friday Ahunanya showed up for work Wednesday at Whittlesea Blue Cab on Industrial Road hoping he'd get a good vehicle to drive on his shift.

Instead, he got a hero's welcome.

The Nigerian heavyweight, who has spent most of his boxing career on club cards and with the occasional undercard appearance on a big show, hopes last week's 12th-round technical-knockout win over Shane Cameron in New Zealand will propel him toward a title shot.

Ahunanya, 35, won the WBO Asia Pacific title with his victory over Cameron, who came in at 19-0. Luis Tapia, his manager and trainer, said the win should get Ahunanya (23-5-3 with 12 knockouts) into the top 10 in the WBA and WBO rankings next month.

Tapia also claims he and Ahunanya are talking to WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev about a title bout in late January or early February.

"We hope to know something next week," Tapia said, "If not, we'll fight someone else."

Ahunanya nearly quit boxing a couple of years ago after four losses in five fights. He was disillusioned about his perceived lack of progress, and he didn't think his heart was still in it.

"I had mixed feelings. The desire was going away," said Ahunanya, who is nicknamed "The 13th." "But Luis said he believed in me, and he said I still had it."

Ahunanya handled Cameron. Given that the Nov. 2 fight was for a regional title and was staged in Auckland, New Zealand, it received little media coverage in the United States. But Ahunanya said the victory has given him renewed energy and confidence.

"It was huge for me," he said. "I was the underdog. Nobody expected me to win. But I outboxed him and outfought him. Hopefully, I'll get a title shot with Chagaev."

Meanwhile, Ahunanya will stay behind the wheel of his cab. He began driving two years ago, and he said it has helped his communication and social skills.

"It's fun, and it pays the bills," he said, adding he never has been robbed while working. "I meet a lot of interesting people, and I've made a lot of friends here."

About 40 of Ahunanya's friends celebrated his win with him Wednesday with a cake. He posed with his buddies and his championship belts, including the WBA North American and WBO Intercontinental titles.

"I still feel fresh," Ahunanya said. "I'm very excited about my future. I'm like a comeback kid."

• GILBERT HEARING -- Reno middleweight Joey Gilbert will appear before the Nevada Athletic Commission on Thursday to explain how he tested positive for several banned substances, including steroids, methamphetamine and amphetamines, following a Sept. 21 fight in Reno.

Gilbert heads what will be a busy agenda at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building. Twenty-five items regarding new business are on the docket, and the meeting will be the first for new commission members Pat Lundvall and Bill Brady and the first overseen by new chairman John Bailey.

• PAVLIK LUCKY -- Kelly Pavlik was fortunate that the injuries he incurred last week weren't more serious.

The world middleweight champion was trying to fix a window at his Youngstown, Ohio, home on Monday when he put his hands and arms through the glass and sustained numerous cuts and abrasions.

However, the tendons were not damaged, and his Feb. 16 rematch with Jermain Taylor remains on track.

Pavlik is expected to have the stitches removed Friday and plans to begin his fight preparations, as scheduled, in the first week of December.

• CALZAGHE WANTS HOPKINS -- In the aftermath of Joe Calzaghe's unification of the super middleweight title Nov. 3 with his win over Mikkel Kessler, Calzaghe wants to move up from 168 pounds to 175.

To him, that means a big-money fight against Bernard Hopkins.

Frank Warren, who is Calzaghe's manager, said previous attempts to do business with Hopkins came up empty. Warren said Calzaghe, of Wales, wants to fight in the United States for big money.

Hopkins said he'd be glad to oblige Calzaghe if he wants to fight as a light heavyweight.

"I welcome the invitation," Hopkins said. "I'm willing to fight him. I'll even dress up as Uncle Sam."

Hopkins said assuming the money issues can be worked out, his preference is to have the fight at Yankee Stadium in the spring of 2008.

"I'd like to be the last fight in the old Yankee Stadium before it closes," Hopkins said. "I'm running out of historic things to do.

"When you think about the great spirit and legacy there, in both baseball and boxing, with Babe Ruth, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali, to me, it would be the perfect setting."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2913.