Ezeogwu promises new deal for boxing

Speaking to nigeriasports.com in Lagos at the weekend, Ezeogwu said that professional boxing has been relegated to the background and said "it was high time the sport is appreciated by all and sundry."

Ezeogwu who could not hide his feeling said; "l’m very happy that a new executive has been put in place to run the affairs of the NNB of C" adding that in the "near future, professional boxing will be better appreciated by Nigerians especially those who don’t like combat sports,"

He assured Nigerian boxers of getting better rating at the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and World Boxing Association(WBA) when they turn professional.

"Nigeria has lost its rating at the world level but l promised to put the country back on track because professional boxing has suffered a set back but l can assure you that Nigeria’s rating would improve before the end of this tenure, l assure you," Ezeogwu told nigeriasports.com

He urged Nigerians to embrace boxing which brought fame to the country before the advent of football which has now become a sport loved by all while boxing now plays second fiddle.

"It’s sad that boxing which brought fame to Nigeria in the sixties is no longer enjoyed by Nigerians, reminiscent when Nigerians trooped out to the National Stadium yesteryears to watch their darling boxers punch it out with their opponents. Boxers like Dick Tiger, Hogan ‘Kid’ Bassey, of blessed memory . Nigeria boxers were dreaded in the world but today Nigeria can only boast of a handful of boxers like Henry Akinwande," he said.

By Onyinyechi Anyanwu.