DEVELOPING AMATEUR BOXING IN NIGERIA

Two years ago, a Former British and Commonwealth lightheavy weight boxing champion, Peter Oboh called for the immediate revival of amateur boxing in Nigeria borne out of his personal concern for the survival of boxing in the country. He posited that the country’s fortunes in boxing would continue to dwindle unless urgent attention was paid to the revival of the once robust Nigeria amateur boxing scene.

According to him, the responsibility of ensuring the survival of amateur boxing cannot be rested solely on the shoulder of the President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation hence the need for private sector collaboration.

Ibrahim Satatima, a former professor in Bayero University Kano also lamented the state of boxing in Nigeria. According to him, boxing did so well in Nigeria during 1970’s when Dele Jonathan defeated one of the best world’s champions and Scotland’s Jim Watt, for the Commonwealth Lightweight Title. The country could boast of three world champions namely; Dick Tiger – middleweight, 1962-1963, Hogan “Kid” Bassey – featherweight, 1957-1959 and Bash Ali (resident in Massachusetts) – cruiserweight, 1987.

However, there was a significant crumble in boxing as a result of a decline in boxers which wasn’t due to lack of talents, but inadequate infrastructure to train amateur and professional boxers, as well as lack of government and private sector sponsorship.

Kudos notwithstanding must be given to GOtv for their efforts towards the development of sports and amateur boxing in particular. From the mid-2000s, aside the limited efforts of government and sports agencies, GOtv became the major private sector supporter of amateur boxing through their GOtv Boxing Night initiative. This also encouraged other boxing promotions like Lewis boxing promotion, Flykite boxing promotions etc which focus more on professional boxing and Yucateco boxing promotion (YBP) whose focus is on amateur boxing/boxer promotion to come into the picture.

In a recent interview, the Yucateco boss, Hon. Omole Imadu intimated that boxing development and rejuvenation must begin from the grass-root. According to him, Yucateco boxing promotion is committed to exploring the grassroots to discover, cultivate and encourage boxing talents through consistency, competitiveness and character.

He revealed that the promotion is set to begin a boxing league which will feature over 100 amateur boxers from different gyms, signed in multimillion naira deals into the Yucateco boxing promotion.

‘We must be innovative if we want development to happen, we must make amateur boxing attractive, competitive and consistent for the boxers.

He further revealed that YBP have organised many boxing competitions in the past with notable boxing clubs and professional boxers participating however, the Yucateco boxing league will help improve and develop amateur boxers more effectively.