Olaide Fijabi, the current West African Light Welterweight Champion after the just-concluded GOtv Boxing Night has called for more boxing championships to improve the sport in the country.
Fijabi spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a reception in his honour by the Chairman of Lagos State Sport Commission (LSSC), Deji Tinubu on Tuesday.
He was crowned the West African Champion in the light welterweight category after he defeated, Djamiou Elepo of the Republic of Benin at the GOtv boxing event on March 25.
Prior to the fight, the boxer has won four gold medals at various Sports Festivals in Nigeria and in recognition of his achievements; the Lagos State Sports Commission employed him.
Fijabi told NAN at the reception that boxing championships in the country were not enough for boxers to assess their skills.
He thanked GOtv for intervening, and urged other stake holders to sponsor more championships to improve boxers.
“I thank GOtv for the initiative to organise boxing championship in Nigeria, but we need more championships to enable us to keep fit and maintain our weight categories.
“When some people see us, they think as champions, we should be rich, but on the contrary, most of us cannot afford to feed ourselves.
“Some of our relatives are looking up to us for survival and they are often embarrassed when we cannot provide for them,’’ he told NAN lamenting that there were boxers but not enough competitions.
“This has been our story so far, all because we don’t have championships.
“I can even say that the training equipment are not there for us. Boxing is almost gone in Nigeria before GOtv came to the rescue.’’
Fijabi commended the LSSC for supporting boxers from the state, urging other states to emulate the gesture.
“I am grateful to LSSC for giving me this opportunity. Although I have been courted by other states which I promised me some incentives but I am resolute to remain in Lagos.
“Lagos has provided me with training equipment and other incentives, including sponsoring me for the championship because I am on their payroll.
“I equally thank GOtv for bringing such a championship but I pray we have more championships to save the face of boxing in Nigeria.
“It is even sad to know that we don’t have boxing promoters again in the country, we need to do something about this,’’ the boxer said.
Fijabi added that if the country had wanted boxers to perform well at different international championships, it should address the dearth of local championships.
“We have potential boxers in the country, but we don’t have promoters to encourage them, everybody needs to look in this direction because only those professional promoters can do the job.
“Boxing is not a sport for all comers else they will mess up the game,’’ he stressed.
Earlier, Tinubu had said that the state would continue to identify with home grown talents.
“I will do everything within my capacity to sponsor Fijabi and encourage him, which is why he is on the payroll of the state.
“Whatever Lagos State will do to empower him, will be provided. We want to promote sports to the highest level in the country,’’ he said.
Contributing, Head of Public Relation Unit, LSSC, Titi Oshodi, said that the state was passionate about the promotion of sports.
“We are promoting them by employing some of them into the service of the state and also providing training equipment for them.
“The boxing gym is provided to them free and it is located at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. The facilities for other sports abound across the state,’’ she said. (NAN)
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