The Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) has ratified the appointment of Mr. Azania Omo-Agege as chairman of its pro-boxing committee.
Azania previously served as the vice president of the Nigeria Boxing Federation before taking over as an interim president at the later stages of the former NBF board.
The widely experienced sports administrator also served as the vice president of the African Boxing Confederation (AFBC), where he initiated several reforms to the advancement of the squared ropes sports in the continent.
The NBF board believes Azania’s wealth of experience, both local and internationally, will provide a great deal of knowledge in correcting the ills in pro-boxing activities in the country.
Omo-Agege’s appointment came in the wake of widespread rejection of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) by several international boxing body such as the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, ABU, and BoxRec, the official record keeper of combat sports globally.
These reputable international boxing bodies have disowned the (NBBofC) despite a purported approval letter from the National Sports Commission (NSC). They cited knavery activities associated with boxers age falsification, pre-planned fight results, and financial improprieties, amongst other unethical actions.
On this basis, BoxRec and other international bodies have resolved to work directly with the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) as the only institution recognized by law to oversee all aspects of boxing activities in Nigeria.
The NBF said it has become imperative for it to take charge of pro-boxing in the country since professional boxers are now allowed to fight in the Olympics. Any pro boxer with fifteen (15) fights or below is now allowed to compete at the Olympics. Hence, the Nigeria Boxing Federation have resolved to monitor and generate a proper records for its professional boxers without depending on any external sources for such essentials.
The Federation’s leadership praised the National Sports Commission (NSC ) for its strong stance against age falsification and other unethical actions in Nigerian sports. They appreciate the commission for its support in this critical phase as they further affirmed that the ongoing reforms in Nigerian boxing is in line with the NSC’s Renewed Hope for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE) aimed at setting all aspects of the nation’s sports on a progressive trajectory.
The apex boxing body in the country is also of the view that the National Sports Commission may not have been properly briefed on the operations of the (NBBofC) as the law solely recognized the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) as the body to oversee all aspects of boxing in the country.
