In its bid to discover more Antony Joshuas in Nigeria, the Oyo State Amateur Boxing Association (OSABA) has concluded plans to establish a boxing academy where parents can bring their wards from as early ages as five years for tutelage in boxing.
OSABA boss, Chief Baron Akintunde Opaleye who disclosed this in Ibadan said forms are now out for the boxing academy established and named after the late foremost boxing promoter, Chief Francis Aiyegbeni for interested parents who desire the money spinning sport for their kids.
Opaleye said the aim is to encourage the public and correct the negative belief that is always ascribed to the boxing sport in this part of our world as a game good for only the ruffians.
“The recent success of Nigerian born British boxer, Anthony Joshua has encouraged many Nigerians to be more interested in the game, so now is the better time to launch the boxing academy, and the idea has received nods from notable boxing stakeholders”, OSABA boss noted.
He added that coaches with good manners that are experts in handling beginners have been employed by the association to attend to the kids while the form can be obtained at the Francis Aiyegbeni Boxing Gym located inside the Wallan Hotel, former D’Rovans Hotel Ring Road, Ibadan.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) Dr. Rafiu Ladipo has described the Aiyegbeni Boxing Academy as a welcome development and a good method to boost the sport that first gave the country global recognition in the world of sports in the 60s.
The NBBofC boss who disclosed this while addressing boxers and OSABA members in Ibadan during the one year remembrance of the Chief Francis Aiyegbeni where the boxing academy was launched called on States Boxing Associations to emulate the Oyo idea and make the boxing sport more popular like football.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
