The initiator of Yucateco Boxing League, Omonlei Imadu, has assured that the league will groom boxers who will win medals for Nigeria at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
He gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.
”We are not just doing this for the fun of it, but to become the breeding ground for the next generation of boxers in Nigeria.
”Mark my words, this league will produce world and Olympic champions for Nigeria,” he said.
Imadu, who was recently elected as the President of the Boxing Promoters Association of Nigeria (BPAN), said the league was in tune with international standards.
He also said that boxers were certified medically fit before participating in their events.
NAN reports that the event will move to the Apongbon area of Lagos State on Aug. 23 for the week three round of bouts.
Twelve boxing clubs are competing for the season’s grand prize of N50 million in the Season Two of the Yucateco boxing league which enters its second week with a record 48 bouts on the fight card.
The season, which began on Aug. 11 at Ikeja, moved to Ikorodu as the respective boxing clubs continued their quest for glory in the second week of action.
In the opening bout of the night, Isreal Makinde of Akil Boxing Club made light work of Chukwuebuka Solomon of Angulo Siete Boxing Club with an emphatic 5-0 victory in their men’s 51kg bout.
It was also a walk in the park for Faruk Oshikoya of Miramontes as he secured a 5-0 win over Gbadeyemi Mayowa of Progreso boxing club in the men’s 51kg.
It was, however, a close battle between Moruf Uthman of Francis Aiyegbeni Boxing Club and Mutiu Alajide of Harmony Boxing Club, with the latter punching his way to a 5-3 victory in their 51kg bout.
Quam Musefiu of Agunlo Seite Boxing Club stole the show in the men’s 57kg bout as he recorded a 5-0 triumph against Adeyinka Wahab of Akil Boxing Club.
In the second 57kg bout, it was Toheeb Wasiu of Progreso who came out tops, defeating Aliu Malik of Miramontes Boxing Club 4-1.
In other results, Abdulazeez Abubakar of Francis Aiyegbeni Boxing Club secured a 3-2 victory against Paul Felix of Harmony Club in the men’s 57kg.
Omotayo Qudus of Progreso Boxing Club defeated Qudus Akinwande of Miramontes Boxing Club 5-0 in their 63.5kg bout.
An elated Omotayo said he was ready to dominate his weight category, and added that he would triumph over his opponents to emerge the overall Most Valuable Boxer of season two.
”I am in very good shape, and my coaches have helped me to improve, as far as the 63.5kg is concerned. I make bold to say that I am the man to beat.
” I aim to help my club to finish top at the end of the season and to also propel myself to emerge the overall best boxer of the season of the Yucateco boxing league,” he said.
The Technical Director of the boxing league, Babatunde Laguda, commended the mental discipline and commitment shown by the respective clubs in the first two weeks of action.
He said, ”The boxers and their respective clubs have shown that they are truly ready for the new season. Our rules within and outside the ring are being adhered to, and this has made our job easier.
”One thing that also excites me is the hunger on the part of the boxers; every bout has met every expectation in terms of delivery, and that is what the fans are out to see.” (NAN)
