The new chairman of Oyo State chapter of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) Hon Gbenga Opaleye who doubles as the caretaker chairman of Ibadan South West Local government has rolled out his good plans to revive the game in the state.
Opaleye while briefing newsmen in Ibadan ahead of his inauguration as the boxing professional body’s boss in Oyo State pledged to bring new innovations that would attract more participants into game of boxing while assuring of regular promotions of title fights in the state.
He explained that Oyo State with over 1,000 boxing clubs is over qualified to have a state chapter of NBBofC where new entrants into professional boxing cadre can be licensed and promoted.
“We have more than 1,000 active boxing clubs in Oyo State and we have average of 20 boxers in each of these boxing clubs. They would just train; train and train without getting any tangible bouts to assess their level of fitness, now we are going to give them hope of becoming professional boxers and earn a living trough the game.
“Our boys would just train very hard with no positive tutor to guide their career and end up becoming garage tout or night club bouncers.
“I’m going to make the game lucrative and profitable for them, I have contacted my friends and associates to help boxing in Oyo State”, Opaleye who also trains regularly as boxer noted.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
