Delta 2022 Fight 278: Controversy Trails Lagos’ Loss To Edo, Protest Rocks Boxing Venue

Team Lagos has protested the circumstances that led to the loss of the fight between Lagos’ female boxer to Edo State in the final of one of the female bouts decided on Thursday in the ongoing National Sports Festival in Asaba.

Fighting on the scheduled bout number 278, Kareem Sukura of Lagos fought to the delight of spectators at the ringside giving Edo State boxer, Adewale Pelumi no breathing space only for the judges to pronounce a 4-1 victory decision for the Edo State pugilist.

This drew the wrath of Lagos State officials who watched the fight, as it was glaring throughout the three rounds bout that Sukura fought her way to win the fight.

It took the intervention of the Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Sola Aiyepeku and Bukola Olopade, CEO of Nilayo Sports Management to calm down the supporters of Team Lagos who were visibly angry with the controversial decision.

A visibility uncomfortable Olopade chided the boxing officials on ground that the pugilist sport in Nigeria has to change its orientation, adding that situation like this is capable of putting the sport to disrepute.

Consultation is currently ongoing among the officials of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) to redress the injustice meted on the Lagos boxer by the ringside judges.

P.M. EXPRESS observed that the ringside supervisor, who said he had put in over 60 years in boxing in Nigeria, was not too comfortable with the 4-1 decision of the judges.

According to him, the Lagos’ boxer had upper hands in the fight, but was surprised how the judges said otherwise.

He pleaded with the Lagos officials of the need to maintain peace as everything possible will be done to right the wrong.

He assured that justice would be done after careful examination of what transpired during the fight, while a decision would be made soon.