Nigerian professional boxers on Friday staged another peaceful protest at the National Stadium in Lagos, calling for urgent intervention in the ongoing dispute between the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) and the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) over who regulates professional boxing.
The protest drew attention to what the professional boxers, mostly members of the Progressive Professional Boxers Association of Nigeria (PPBA), described as a growing crisis that threatens the future of professional boxing in the country.
Addressing journalists during the demonstration, the coordinating head of PPBA, Afinni Idris Abiodun, appealed directly to the President of the NBF, Wale Edun, and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, to step in and resolve the lingering face-off between the two governing bodies.
According to him, the conflict has opened the door for unauthorised individuals allegedly using the NBF as a cover to interfere in the administration of professional boxing, an action they say is already having serious consequences.
They cited the recent removal of scheduled fights involving Nigerian boxers from the global boxing records platform, BoxRec, as direct fallout of the crisis. This situation has not only jeopardised the careers of many boxers but has also tarnished the reputation of Nigerian boxing on an international scale.
It is crucial for the authority to reach a consensus swiftly to restore order and ensure that the sport can thrive without further disruption.
“The situation is affecting our careers badly,” the secretary of the pro-boxer’s body, Sikiru Shogbesan, said in his statement. “We do not have any other means of livelihood other than boxing, and this feud is taking a serious toll on us.”
The protesting boxers urged the relevant authorities not to remain silent, emphasising the urgency of restoring order and credibility to the sport.
“Boxing is the only source of our living; hence, we don’t want anyone with his inordinate ambition to toy with our source of livelihood.
“We all know that Mr Omonlei Yakubu Imadu, CEO of Yucateco Boxing Promotions, who is seen championing this crisis, doesn’t mean well for us; hence, we are using this avenue to call on the leadership of NBF to call him to order,” said the scribe of PPBA.
He added that “We are using this medium to call on the President of NBF, Wale Edun, and the Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Sheu Dikko, to intervene in the continued crisis which has begun to have adverse effects on our careers. Please don’t keep mute on the matter again,” they pleaded.
The demonstration remained peaceful, with participants holding placards and chanting slogans calling for unity, transparency, and proper governance within Nigeria’s boxing administration.
As tensions continue between the NBF and NBBofC, stakeholders warn that failure to resolve the dispute swiftly could further damage the reputation of Nigerian boxing on the international stage and derail the careers of promising athletes.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
