At Individual Boxing Club Championship, Lagos Govt Reiterates Need To Develop Sports At Grassroots Level

The 2024 Lagos Individual Boxing Club Championship has commenced at the Bishop Aggey Senior Secondary School in the Mushin Area of the state.

In its bid to continue using the instrumentality of sports to shape the career of youths, giving an avenue for the boxers and up and coming stars, honing their skills, and in preparation for upcoming national competitions , the Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission Lekan Fatodu, reiterated that the state is determined is encouraging sports development at the grassroots level.

He emphasized the significance of the initiative in promoting a sense of belonging among the youths in the community, encouraging a culture of better understanding and to take into a venture that instills self-discipline, self-development, self-reliance, and aid the community in eliminating social vices and any wrong doing.

Boxing techniques and actions were on display as boxers from their different categories took to the ring to express their prowess in pugilism at the Bishop Aggay playing ground.

Fatodu while declaring the championship open said the purpose of having the tournament in Mushin is because of the fact that boxing is one of the engagements that is peculiar to the Mushin community, adding that the young peoples potentials need to be harnessed and encouraged as a way of identifying raw talents that would represent the state and country at the national and international levels.

Director, Sports Development, LSSC, Nunayon Travih, remarked that the tournament was in tandem with the mantra of the present administration in not leaving anyone behind, using the platform to identify talents that will be groomed for the National Sports Festival and those that will be monitored to develop their career path and have a means of livelihood.

Omolei Imadu, Founder Yucateco Boxing League, heaped praises on the Lagos State Government for creating an enabling environment and always giving listening ears and aiding athletes sports development.

Directors from the Lagos State Sports Commission, and Senior Special Assistants to Governor on Sports Development, Grassroots and Sports Marketing and Partnership, Damilare Orimoloye,Adebanji Atewogboye and Onaopemipo Adu were all present at the event.

In an intense encounter between Yusuf Fawaz in blue corner and Animashaun Sherif (red) from Lion Boxing Club ended 2- in favour of the latter while Bodude Olamilekan dominance from the beginning to the end earned him a victory of 3-0 over Ozumba Tony of Oluomo Boxing Club.

It was a free day for Babalola Ibukun who showed his level of dexterity and ability in throwing punches rounded off Kazeem Yusuf of Oluomo Boxing Club 3 to nil in the 62kg category. In the 63kg category, Olawepo Samuel from Badagry Boxing Club did not submitted to the powerful punches of Isaac Aderibigbe earning him a victory of 2-1 in a split decisions of the judges.

Other winners in different categories are:Adeleke Lateef 53.3kg,Gbadeyan Mayowa 54kg, Jesugbesan David 53kg, Olayiwola Ibrahim 61kg, Ogunsola Muheez 62kg, Ileubare Samuel 63kg, Kuyebi Samuel 60.9kg, and Aberegidi Ebi 62.5kg.