Sports
Nigerian Female Boxer Challenges Americans
Nigerian-born female boxer, Helen Joseph, popularly known as “The Iron Lady” has challenged her counterparts in the United States to a fight, saying she is ready to knock out her competitor.
The former IBF champion in the featherweight division said during a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Consul General in New York, Mr Benayaogha Okoyen, that she wanted to put Nigeria on the world female boxing map.
Joseph, also nicknamed “The Princess of Africa” in her boxing world, had three different boxing titles: the WBF, IBF, GBU but she confessed her opponents were afraid to come out to fight her.
She ranks among the top in the world of female boxing and has five weight classes, flyweight 115, bantamweight 118, superbantam 112, featherweight 116 and any other super feather weight 129.
“In these categories, all these female boxers are running, they don’t want to fight me. When I was back in Africa, they were reigning all over the U.S. and they were unbeatable.
“But ‘The Iron Lady’ has arrived and everybody has run away, nobody wants to fight. I mean I’m knocking on their doors and they don’t want to come out. What’s wrong with you girls?
“So all these while you have been fighting cheap opponents, now that I have arrived, nobody wants to show face,” Joseph said.
“But I will bring them out because they have what I need, they have all the titles that I desire.
“I will keep collecting those titles from them and pack them because I know they will not take it from me.
“I want that message to go out there and let them to know that I remain the ‘Iron Lady’, the ‘Princess of Africa’ and I fear nobody,” Joseph taunted her competitors.
Joseph awards are: the best fighter of the year 2015, the best fighter of the year 2012 and the best knockout of the year 2017.
According to her, however, there is the need to fight a world title on the Nigerian soil so as to put the name of her country on the world’s boxing map.
“There is no world title in Nigeria right now in boxing. If they say all world titles should line up now, Nigeria is not among because there is no world title in Nigeria now.
The Rivers State-born boxer said in the history of female boxing in West Africa, she was the first woman who had travelled to different countries and won three world titles.
“I also won two awards in boxing and I have fought for two world titles in two countries that I’m sure I won because I knocked down all my opponents but they robbed me because I travelled to their countries.”
Joseph shared her ultimate dream: “One support I want from my government is to promote my world title fight in Nigeria. I want to go back home. I want to fight in my own country.
“I want my country to watch the kind of action and power God has given me. The fight I want Nigeria to sponsor for me is the World Boxing Organisation.
“If I have a sponsorship, I’m supposed to fight on June 10 in New York City. Then I will go back to Nigeria to defend the title.
“So that’s why I want my country to support me so I can fight my opponents on the Nigerian soil and take back what belongs to me.
“I am proud of Nigeria and I love my country. Even when I was in Ghana, I used the Nigerian Passport and everyone asked me to change my passport to Ghana’s passport but I refused.
“I know Ghana loves me and supported me a lot; Ghana is my second country,” she said.
The Nigerian Consul-General, said Nigeria would be very happy to support any of her talented stars like Joseph, to succeed, adding, it will be our pride and joy.
Okoyen added: “We are happy that you are making our country proud, you are making the female world proud and whatever we can do as a Consulate, as Nigerians, as a Government, we will continue to do.
“We will continue to support your activities and others who are making Nigeria proud. Nigeria is proud of the feat you have attained so far. We like your spirit and where you’re going.”
Joseph’s Manager, Devonne Canady, described her talent as superb, adding, they were talking with the Federal, Lagos and Rivers State Governments to sponsor Joseph’s fight.
“She’s the hardest worker that I’ve ever met in boxing and I’ve been in boxing for a long time. She trained hard, I love her and I’m committed to her success,” Canady said.
Prof. Joseph Shipley from Columbia University, said Joseph should be the Anthony Joshua female boxer adding, “she had turned professional, she’s fought for the world title around the world”.
“She is a Champion, she is one of the most feared fighters in the world but she hadn’t had enough promotions.
“Right now, Nigeria has incredible top talents in the arts, in sports around the world and she is of that calibre, she’s a top global athlete.
“She can do a lot, she wants to represent Nigeria. She’s an incredible personality, she’s not just a talent, she’s got charisma. Everybody needs to know she’s a star,” Shipley said.
While the zone won overall medals, it however was 13 gold medals behind the Force Headquarters, which won 103 gold while zone 2 won 90 gold medals.
The zone won 79 silver medals while the Force Headquarters won 65 silver medals. On the Bronze table, Zone 2 came first with 77 while the Force Headquarters won 75.
Umuahia came third with 44 gold medals, 26 silver and 23 bronze medals.
Out of the zones, Bauchi came 18th after ending the competition with zero gold, six silver and 15 bronze medals.
Speaking at the Zonal Command Headquarters in Onikan, Lagos, where he officially received the Zone 2 sport contingents, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade, expressed optimism that some of the winners would represent Nigeria at the Olympics and do the country proud like Chioma Ajunwa.
“I salute our athletes for being good representatives”
It was as if we were not going to meet up when the competition was announced, however, despite the late preparation, our team excelled and made Lagos and Ogun proud.
“Coming out with the total of 246 medals, being the highest in the competition shows that we are the real champion. Even though the Force Headquarters came first with the highest number of gold medals, we still give kudos for our athletes for their outstanding performance. I have no doubt in my mind that the athletes in the Nigeria Police Force will represent Nigeria.
“I appreciate the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun for allowing the game to continue and made sure this was a success. The Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Ogun State provided the logistics and support in other ways, and the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) for Zone 2, Olubode Fakeye for being with the athletes through the event. His presence motivated the athletes to attain the level. We thank God for safety.
“The next event is in two years and I am urging the athletes to start preparing,” he said.
“All of these are fully entrenched in the Niger Delta Games,” he said while declaring the 2nd edition closed in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday night.
Olopade, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the closing ceremony, delivered a passionate address highlighting the broader value of sports to national development, youth empowerment and economic growth.
He described the Niger Delta Games as a living example of how sport can unify communities while stimulating local economies, adding that the Commission would continue to back the initiative.
“This is why I make a bold statement today that the National Sports Commission will continue to support Dunamis Icon and the Games,” he said.
Olopade emphasised that the vision behind the Games aligns strongly with President Tinubu’s commitment to repositioning sports as a strategic tool for youth engagement and national development.
“The father of the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has shown in so many ways his determination to use sports as a tool of empowerment and engagement with the most important demographic in our country, the youth,” he said.
“For the first time in this country, sport is being given its rightful position in government. The President did not stop at that. Just last week, in a meeting with the Chairman of the Commission, sweeping reform policies were approved. These reforms will ensure that sporting facilities are upgraded and equitably distributed across the nation, while also opening the door for increased private sector involvement in sports.”
“In the last one year, we have taken deliberate steps to collect data from sporting events organised across the country. The numbers show clearly that these Games are putting money in the pockets of our people. They are supporting small businesses, creating direct and induced jobs, boosting corporate sponsorship opportunities and creating visibility for host cities and states,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Dunamis Icon Ltd and lead Consultant to the NDG, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, has revealed plans to increase the number of sports from 16 to 21 at the next edition.
Speaking to journalists at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Ikpokpo explained that the expansion would depend largely on the popularity of the sports within the Niger Delta region.
According to him, the vision of the games goes beyond winning medals, stressing that talent discovery remains the primary objective.
He noted that canoeing was removed from this year’s programme due to lack of equipment in participating states, while Taekwondo was introduced instead.
He emphasised that one of the key legacies of the Games is ensuring athletes welfare and proper organisation.
He called for a return to vibrant school sports and urged state governments to adequately fund coaches to drive grassroots talent identification.
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