NAN-S-8
Boxing
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Feb. 21, 2017(NAN) Olanrewaju Durodola, Nigeria’s WBC Cruiserweight boxing champion, on Tuesday urged the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) to improve on the quality of the ongoing National Boxing Championship in Lagos.
Durodola made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the day-two the competition which has no fewer than 200 boxers competing for honours.
“Sincerely, I am not impressed with the level of organisation put in place for the boxing event; we are talking of a national championship and not a state affair.
“The atmosphere is not conducive as everywhere is rough and so untidy and the occasion does not give the championship the worthiness of a national championship.
“I hope the organisers can look into this and make the necessary adjustment such as you watch the quality of organisation in a national table tennis event or basketball championship,’’ Durodola said.
According to Durodola, boxing is seen as a sport for touts and motor park boys and this why it suffers so much neglect.
But such is not the case as boxing is a sport for individuals that simply have talents to showcase to the world, he said.
“The NBF should change their approach and see boxing as a sport for intelligent individuals who have got talents to showcase to the world and not sport for touts or hooligans,’’ Durodola said.
On the quality of the National Boxing Championship, Durodola expressed confidence in the fighters, saying that the future was bright as boxers were determined to make a name for themselves.
“The fighters I have seen so far have shown great stuffs and I am confident that the future is very bright for Nigerian boxers in the African and world stage.
“But they must not just be left alone but have discovered through this opportunity they must continue to train hard for future challenges,’’ Durodola said.
NAN reports that the National Boxing Championship which began on Feb. 20 will end on Feb. 26.
The competition is holding at the Kenneth Minimah Boxing Hall at the National Stadium, Lagos. (NAN)
BAO/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)