By IHECHINYERE CHIGEMERI-UWOM

The maiden South-East Amateur Boxing Championship opened in Umuahia, Wednesday, with stakeholders describing it as a major step towards reviving boxing in the region.

In a speech at the opening ceremony of the four-day championship, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, said it would help to discover future champions.

Ananaba said, “This championship marked a significant milestone in our collective effort to develop grassroots sports and provide platform for young athletes to showcase their talents.”

He described the event, being sponsored by the Abia Government as “a reflection of the government’s commitment to talent discovery, athlete empowerment and sporting excellence”.

“Sports remains a powerful tool for youth engagement, social inclusion, economic empowerment and regional unity.

“Through the governor’s support, Abia continues to position itself as a hub for sporting excellence and talent development,” he said.

Ananaba urged the participating athletes to uphold discipline, respect and fairplay throughout the competition.

The South-East Representative on the Board of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Nnamdi Oji, said that the championship would help revive the sport in the region and restore its lost glory.

Oji, represented by a sports consultant, Paul Ngadiuba, regretted that boxing had witnessed a decline in the region since the end of the era of renowned boxers, such as Obisie Nwankpa, and others.

He described the championship as “a timely intervention, aimed at rejuvenating boxing and producing athletes capable of representing the region at national and international competitions”.

“It was disappointing that no athlete from the South-East featured at the last National Boxing Trials in Lagos.

“However, with what Abia is doing through this championship, I am optimistic that Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra will soon be adequately represented at events, such as the Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games and National Sports Festival,” he said.

Oji urged participants to embrace sportsmanship, unity and discipline, saying that the competition was designed to promote the growth of boxing in the region.

Also, the South-East Zonal Sports Representative of the National Sports Commission, Bernard Ezeama, described boxing as an exciting sport that requires discipline and self-control.

He commended Abia for hosting the championship and pledged the commission’s support towards talent discovery and athletes’ development.

“Abia is the centre of sporting excellence in the South-East and we will continue to support initiatives that promote grassroots sports development,” Ezeama said.

Earlier, the Abia Director of Sports, Mr Obioma George, said that the championship would help reposition boxing in the South-East and create opportunities for young athletes to excel.

George said that the competition would serve as a platform for identifying and grooming talents capable of excelling at national and international levels.

He expressed the confidence that with government’s support, boxing in the region would witness renewed growth and produce future champions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the opening event featured two boxing bouts, with Israel Ogbodo from Enugu State taking on Ayu John of Imo, while Chidiebere Chukwuemeka from Abia faced Chigbuo Aguji from Ebonyi.

NAN reports that after three rounds of action, Ogbodo and Chukwuemeka emerged victorious, giving Enugu and Abia wins in the two bouts.

In an interview with newsmen after winning his opening bout, Chukwuemeka attributed his success to years of training and the dedication of his coach in grooming him.

The Abia representative expressed determination to reach higher heights in the sport, hoping to represent Nigeria at international competitions. (NAN)