OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Interim President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Azania Omo-Agege, has commended heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma, former cruiserweight world champion Lawrence Okolie, and other Nigerian-heritage boxers for their recent visit to the country.
Omo-Agege expressed his delight at seeing the fighters reconnect with their roots, underscoring the historic significance of boxing to Nigerian sports.
“I’m very happy to see Itauma, Okolie, Azeez, and all the other boxers visit Nigeria, the home of boxing legends. We have many boxing champions with Nigerian heritage. Amongst all sports in Nigeria, boxing got the first ever medal and also the first in Africa from the Olympics,” he said.
The interim president also proposed the establishment of a Nigerian Boxing Hall of Fame Museum in Abuja, which would showcase sculptures and stories of legendary Nigerian boxers such as Hogan Bassey, Dick Tiger, Samuel Peter, the Okorodudus, and the Konyegwachies.
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“When people come, all tourists come visiting, they can go there, look around, watch, and know the history of Nigeria and boxing. I think that would be a very good one,” he said.
Omo-Agege praised President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day speech, which emphasised putting Nigeria first, saying the same attitude should apply to sports.
He commended Balmoral Promotions for bringing boxers to Nigeria for professional bouts and expressed optimism about boxing’s resurgence in the country.
During the visit, Okolie expressed willingness to fight in Nigeria, stating, “I think it is important that some of us come back home to have some fights in Nigeria, so now we have the connection here and the love, we just have to find a way to finance it.”
The boxers, including Dan Azeez and David Adeleye, attended the “Chaos in the Ring” event at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, on Wednesday night, which was graced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other dignitaries.
Itauma, who is in Nigeria as an ambassador for Bet9ja, has been visiting grassroots boxing facilities as part of initiatives to develop the sport at the foundation level.