The Lagos State Government in conjunction with the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF) led by Mr. Olawale Edun, a former Commissioner for Finance and with the able support of the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi, would be sponsoring Lagos boxers to the London (England) vs Lagos Amateur Boxing event to be held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London on October 24.
According to Mr. John Rider, an official of the London (England) Amateur Boxing Association, no African nation has sponsored any of its boxers to such competition outside the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. He confirmed that, this is a first from any African country albeit by a state government in Nigeria.
Mr. Olawale Edun, the Chairman of Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF) who incidentally had been a boxer at Repton Boys Boxing Club of London said that the planning of this tourney had been on since last year; and it is a continuation of the tradition of international competition for Lagos boxers, which started in 2010 with the annual Lagos versus Repton Boxing Club of London contests. The latest edition in 2021 saw the Lagos boxers winning for the first time.
In addition, the international exposure and collaboration has brought the added benefit of international standards training for Lagos coaches with commensurate England ABA official certification. The coaches who benefited from the Level One training last year would go for the Level Two Course this year from 24th to 31st of August in Lagos; while at the same time, a new set of coaches will be put through the Level One course. In what is now a well established and important continuous process, five coaches and referees including Mr. John Rider are expected to arrive in Lagos, Nigeria to undertake the training and updating of the knowledge of our local coaches to international standards. In future, arrangements will be made to have Amateur International Boxing Association instructors further train Lagos for AIBA certification.
The training of our local coaches and referees according to Mr. Wale Edun would go a long way in assuring parents and guardians that their wards are being entrusted to qualified and safe hands, while promoting the popularity of the sport (boxing) to the generality of the people.
The London (England) tourney which has been given a nod by the Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN has once again demonstrated His Excellency’s consistent advocacy and policy action in taking our youth off the streets using the vehicle of sports to give opportunity to all youth in Lagos; and elevate the talented to reach the limits of their potential. The tourney is a historical one outside the usual international sporting events especially as London(England) has not hosted any African boxers outside the Commonwealth and Olympics.
Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi, the Honourable Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development perceives that this outing would be good for Lagos State Boxers especially as the State prepares for the next National Sports Festival to be held in Calabar, Cross Rivers State next year. He noted that Lagos boxers are progressing from competing with boxers from a single London boxing club (Repton) to competing against a team of boxers selected from all the London amateur boxing clubs. He expressed the hope that other corporate and individual sponsors will assist government by joining Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (a registered NGO) in providing resources in support of the London trip and training of coaches; as well as provide support to Lagos Sports Associations in general.
Seven male and one female boxer from the welterweight to light heavyweight divisions along with some officials are expected to make the trip. The tourney promises to expose the boxers and officials to the new rules, regulations and technicalities guiding the game thereby improving their skills, performance and output in this area of sport. The London event doubles as a major fund-raiding gala occasion in support of the cancer charity.
