Ifeanyi Eduzor
Vice President of Nigeria Boxing Federation, Brigadier General Joseph Ayeni (retd.), has declared that the annual Champion of Champions competition was revived in a bid to improve the fortunes of Nigerian boxing.
Ayeni, who spoke over the weekend in Lagos, said the boxing tournament would enable the federation determine the real champions of the various weight categories and avoid ambiguity in rating boxers.
The boxing federation on Friday, December 22 at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Gym of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, held the 2018 edition of the tournament for both male and female pugilists in 15 different weight categories.
Gen. Ayeni told The Nigerian Xpress Sports that in the past when the competition was sponsored by the defunct National Oil, many talented pugilists who later won laurels for the country were discovered, assuring that the re- introduction of the championship was necessary to uplift the standard of the sport in the country.
“The champion of champions tournament is an important event in the annual calendar of the NBF. When the tournament was being sponsored by National Oil at the Eagles Club, it helped to produce many talented boxers who later did the country proud at the amateur and the paid ranks and that’s why we’re taking it seriously,”he explained.
According to him, the competition coming few days after the National Sports Festival was to ensure the boxers put in their best since they were still in top form after the Abuja outing.
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“We decided to hold the championship few days after the National Sports Festival to give all boxers equal opportunity and avoid excuses since they’re still in top shape.”
On what to expect from the federation in 2019, he stated that they would keep improving on their achievements just as he promised that there would be no dull moment in the federation.
“Our target this year, 2019, is not only to surpass our achievement but to return Nigeria back to its leading position, not only at the continental level but at the commonwealth and world level.
“We also intend to organise refresher courses for referees and other officials to keep them abreast of the most modern rules of the game,” Ayeni said.
