Busy 2012 Expected For Nigerian Boxing

The coming year, like the outgoing one, will have a busy schedule in the local and on the international scene for both professional and amateur boxers .

In amateur boxing, the Monthly Saturday Boxing Show will be a major highlight in the coming year, providing ample thrilling moments for boxing fans just as it did in the outgoing year.

The monthly event, packaged by the Lagos Boxing Hall Fame, LBHF, in conjuction with Lagos Amateur Boxing Association, LABA, is specifically created for the development of amateur boxing in the nooks and crannies of Lagos State and the development of infrastructural and boxing facilities to world class standards.

The high point of the show will be the duo of Lagos ABA versus Repton Boys Club of London which will come up in the latter part of the year and the Governor’s Belt which normally holds on the Boxing Day.

Another higlight in the coming year will be the boxing events of the 18th National Sports Festival billed to hold in Lagos. The events will give amateur boxers in the country the opportunity to express themselves as they have done in previous ocassions.

However, boxing fans will be waiting to see if Lagos State boxers can make a clean sweep of the medals at home like they did in the last edition of the festival tagged the Garden City Games in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In the coming year, fans of professional boxing will be treated to great exhilarating moments than what they got in the outgoing year, said Remi Aboderin, Secretary General of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, NBB of C.

“The good news is that five new promoters will be joining the two promoters that have been operating in the country. The promotion outfits are Gold Fist, Henzini, Greyland, Tripple A and Achievers. Boxing fans should be ready to watch more fights next year.

“This is very good for professional boxing in the country. The implication of this is that boxing fans will no doubt be treated to more exciting boxing events in the coming year,” said Aboderin, who is also the President of the Threels And Freels Boxing Promotions.

On the international scene, Nigeria’s Olusegun Ajose may have a shot at the World Boxing Council, WBC, Light Welterweight and Mexican legend, Erik Morales, following a unanimous decision victory over Ali Chebah on 30 September in California, USA.

With 30 fights and 30 wins since turning professional, Ajose is determined to rewrite boxing history especially as he is now the mandatory challenger for the WBC Light Welterweght title.

—Bimbo Ajayi