4th November, 2011
A Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, NBB of C’s referee and member of Ring Officials Committee of the African Boxing Union, ABU, Lateef Muiss, has said that ring officials are vital to the development of professional boxing in Nigeria.
Muiss made the disclosure in a chat with Boxing In Focus on his arrival from Burkina Faso where he officiated in an ABU, title bout. Muiss said Nigeria, like every other country in the world, needs well-trained ring officials for professional boxing to develop.
“Highly-trained ring officials are vey important to the success of every professional boxing tournament. The ring officials are referees, judges, ring doctors, gloves masters and time keepers. These people are vital to the success of any professional boxing bout,†said Muiss.
He noted that the current leadership of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control is doing its best to update its ring officials with current trends in the sport by sending them for courses within and outside the country.
“The board is doing a lot in order to update its ring officials with the current rules and regulation that guide professional boxing tournaments. That is why the board usually sends its ring officials for courses from time to time,†said Muiss, one of the three ring officials who attended a two-day seminar in Lusaka in August.
Muiss said further that their participation at the seminar will have a positive impact on professional boxing in the country.
—Bimbo Ajayi