Ex-Commonwealth Champion Tasks Bodies On Boxing Dev

A former African and
Commonwealth Light Welterweight Boxing Champion, Obisia Nwankpa,  has said that that corporate organizations should do more to reposition the sport in Nigeria.
Nwankpa told newsmen in Lagos that it was only when such concerted moves were made that boxing could stand a chance of being reinvigorated.
“If sponsors can have little faith in boxing as a sport here in this country, then we will have a bright future in professional boxing.
“Stakeholders must also come together to enhance the image of boxing to get people excited and entice sponsors,” he said.
Nwankpa, who challenged Saoul Mamby, the World Boxing Council (WBC) Light Welterweight Champion in 1981, said that the dearth of viable promoters had contributed to the lull in the boxing scene.
“We had a couple of promoters about six or seven back in the day, but now they are not functioning anymore, it’s all old news.
“The profession is drying up because of non-functioning promoters and lack of interest of the major stakeholders,” Nwankpa said.
The former Head Coach of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) said that efforts must be made to rekindle the interest of Nigerians in boxing.
“Nigerians are interested in boxing and that makes it easy for boxing to thrive in the country if given a chance by stakeholders.
“Basically, the promoters, boxers and sponsors have to decide to uplift professional boxing to its former glory.
“We have the youths and the boxers, the only thing left is just for something to be organised or structured by interested parties,” he said.