Ondo State To Host Open Trials

Nigeria Boxing Federation, NBF is getting set to hold an Open Championship in Akure, Onodo State.

Boxing in Focus gathered that the tournament, which will commence on 16 July is yet to get a fixed venue. The tourney, according to the federation will be used to select boxers that would represent the country at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. The weeklong event is expected to attract boxers from all states of the country.

President of NBF, Rotimi George-Taylor, told Boxing In Focus that the Open Championship is aimed at giving all good boxers, both male and female, an opportunity to show their talents, stressing that only the best six would be selected in both categories.

He noted that they are yet to know the number of entries that would be coming from different states of the federation. He assured that all logistics for a successful championship will be provided before the day.

George-Taylor said the federation decided to make the Open an all comers’ affair because it wants to give every amateur boxer in the country an opportunity to fight for a place in the team.

He added that apart from selecting the best six  boxers for the Commonwealth Games, the federation will not relent in its effort to discover good boxers for the country.

According to him, “the NBF is prepared to take amateur boxing to greater heights in Nigeria. We intend to hold a national trials, where we hope to select six boxers for the Commonwealth Games in India. We are throwing the trials open because we want to be transparent in our selection.”

On the federation’s choice to present only six boxers for the Commonwealth Games, George-Taylor disclosed that it is the National Sports Commission, NSC, that told the NBF to present six pugilists for the Commonweath Games. He said that the federation would have loved to present more than six boxers, but it has to abide by the directive of the NSC.

Speaking on the World Series of Boxing, WSB Championship, which will hold in England between 28 and 29 June, where Ehwarieme Onoride, who campaigns in the 91+ category, is expected to represent the country, Taylor said he is not aware of the championship, adding that Onoride will not get the backing of the federation.

“I’m not aware of such invitation to Onoriode. I don’t think we will give him the support because he has not proved himself to be a good boxer in the international arena in the past,” Taylor said.