Boxers Want Corporate Bodies’ Sponsorship

Two boxing coaches have
in Lagos urged corporate bodies to be fully involved in developing amateur boxing in the country through the sponsorship of competitions.
The coaches, who spoke to newsmen in separate interviews, said lack of competitions in amateur boxing is affecting the sport’s growth in the country.
Godwin Igelle, a boxing coach who was a former champion, said lack of competitions have affected the growth of boxing in Nigeria.
He said the popularity of boxing as a sport has gone down in the country.
“Boxing has gone into comatose, and we should be looking for a way to salvage it. All the stakeholders are concerned about the poor state of boxing in Nigeria.
“Gone are those glorious days in boxing, when we used to have international champions like Hogan Bassey and Dick Tiger,” the coach said.
Igelle however, appealed to government and boxing lovers to take amateur boxing to the next level.
Shehu Yusuf, another professional boxing coach, added that lack of sponsorship had killed the sport.
“The only intervention on reviving boxing is for the corporate bodies to assist through the sponsorship of competitions.
“Nothing is happening in amateur boxing, and promoters are now afraid of investing in the sport for fear of losing out.
“Sponsorship of boxing events does not require much spending. Unlike football, boxing is not a team event, and this makes it easy and cheap to organise.
“GOtv came to our rescue in November 2014 and promised to continue. So, we expect corporate bodies to come and join in the sponsorship of boxing,’’ he said.
Yusuf, however, said due to lack of competitions talented boxers are losing interest in the sport.