Ekundayo Tasks FG On Boxing Fund

Nigerian born international boxer, Larry Ekundayo, has called for the establishment of a ‘boxing fund’ to develop the sport in the country.

Ekundayo made the appeal in at interview with the Western Europe Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in London.

He said, “boxing is as important as football, but the sport  is not popular in the country because it lacked support from government, and the private sector.

“Government can develop boxing by building community boxing gym centres to engage the children in the sport and take them off the streets.

“So many children do not want to go to school,  but if they are introduced to a sport like boxing, they will realise the importance of education because as they fight professionally, they will want to broaden their  knowledge academically,” Ekundayo, who started professional boxing in February said.

Ekundayo won ‘The Prizefighter tournament’ on 3 November, after defeating three English Light-Middle Weight fighters in London.

Meanwhile, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK,  who formally received and presented the Cup to Ekundayo, described him as a patriotic Nigerian.

He said the High Commission would continue to support “Nigerian sportsmen who are making the country proud abroad”.

Similarly, Mr Spencer Fearon of Hard Knocks Boxing Promotions described Ekundayo as an “exceptional boxer,” who had achieved a lot within a short time.

“Ekundayo has made history because he was the most inexperienced fighter in the tournament, yet he defeated three English Light-Middle weight fighters which earned him the nick name, “Larry The Natural.”