Boxers Hail Saturday Boxing Show

Some Lagos State boxers have expressed their satisfaction with the consistency of the monthly “Saturday Boxing Show’’, praising Olawale Edun for promoting the show.

The boxers told newsmen in separate interviews in Lagos that the show had provided them opportunities of showing their potential.

The boxers, who were reacting ahead of the 32nd edition of the competition, canvassed the extension of the show to other parts of the country, to enhance the discovery of more talents.

The event would hold tomorrow at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Yaba.

A60 kg boxer with Paramount Boxing Club, Yaba, Joseph Otto,  said he was impressed with the sustenance of the monthly event.

He said also that the competition had provided a platform on which he could demonstrate his skills to be in competition shape.

“Most of the annual competitions crumble but this is the first-ever monthly programme which had run for more than 30 months without seizing, I commend Edun for the sustenance,” he said.

A 56 kg boxer, Eniola Korede of the Progressive Club, Mushin, said the competition had given him opportunity to challenge some boxers whom he was afraid of in the past.

Korede applauded the value which the monthly competition, sponsored by the former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, has given to boxing.

He urged other enthusiasts to emulate Edun’s gesture by sponsoring competitions in other sports, to ensure their development.

Ayisat Oriyomi, a 54 kg boxer of Blessed Club, Abule-Egba, commended the donation of equipment and kits to boxers featuring in the show, describing the gesture as ‘good motivation’.

She said the show was a good avenue to discover female boxers, to be groomed into future champions.

“The competition has given female boxers the opportunity to fight and develop their talents.

“Also, boxers who participate in the competition are given kits, gloves, food and transport fare, every month,” Oriyomi said.

Makinwa Folorunso, a 45 kg boxer of the Sky Power Club, Epe, said he was discovered in the competition, and that since then, he had fallen in love with the sport.

Folorunso advised that the show be extended to boxers in distant areas like Epe, Ikorodu, Igbogbo-Bayeku, Badagry and environs, for more talents to be discovered.

The “Saturday Boxing Show,’’ initiated in July 2010, is being organised by the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association, and promoted by Edun’s Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame.