...... Boxers to win medals, cash prizes
Twenty-four young boxers drawn from four sporting zones of Ogun State will compete at the maiden RIYE Under-17 Boxing Circuit on Friday, October 30, with the organisers assuring participants and spectators of adequate safety measures and effective coordination.
The one-day amateur boxing championship, scheduled to hold at the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta, is aimed at discovering, nurturing and developing young boxing talents across the state.
The organiser of the RIYE Boxing Circuit, Hon. Tunde Delu, disclosed this at a press conference held at the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria Secretariat, MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta, on Thursday.
Delu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Youth Development, said the initiative was designed to provide young athletes with opportunities to develop their skills and pursue careers in sports.
He explained that the circuit was established to address the imbalance in sports development, noting that attention and resources were often concentrated on a few popular sports at the expense of others.
He said, “We have to put something together for boxing, for the younger kids, so that we can give them the platform to compete and also give them the courage to continue their journey towards becoming international champions.”
The organiser said the competition would feature eight male bouts and four female bouts, with the boxers representing the four major sporting zones of Ogun State. He added that the organisers had made provisions for medals and cash rewards to encourage the young athletes.
According to him, the top performers in each bout will receive ₦100,000, while the other participants will receive ₦50,000 each. He said the reward structure was intended to motivate the boxers and encourage their continued participation in the sport.
Delu added that the initiative was not limited to boxing, disclosing that the organisers had earlier staged the RIYE Under-15 Athletics Championships and were planning to extend the circuit to other sports, including table tennis, gymnastics and scrabble.
The Technical Director of the championship and boxing promoter, David Osuolale, assured participants of adequate medical care and safety arrangements before, during and after the competition. He said the boxers would undergo medical examinations and weigh-ins before competing, while certified national and international referees and judges would officiate the bouts.
Osuolale added that the boxers would compete under international amateur boxing rules, with each bout consisting of three rounds of three minutes each. He said protective equipment, including headgear and gloves, would be provided, while medical personnel would remain on standby throughout the event.
A 16-year-old boxer, Anuoluwapo Soyombo, popularly known as Beast, expressed confidence ahead of the championship, saying she was ready to compete and emerge victorious. She added that she and the other participants had undergone intensive training in preparation for the event.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, Azeez Michael Ogunsiji, commended Delu and the organisers for investing in grassroots sports development. A former boxing champion and coach, Sunday Michael, also praised the initiative, saying boxing could help young people develop discipline, self-control and respect for others while providing them with opportunities for professional careers.
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