Boxers to slug it out for Commonwealth ticket

No fewer than 44 amateur boxers have been invited to camp by the Nigeria Amateur Boxing Association, NABA. This is in view of the forth coming Commonwealth Games scheduled to hold in the Australian city of Melbourne. These boxers were invited into camp after the State Championship, which was held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Nigeriasports.com gathered that, the boxers; both male and female are being camped in Etete in Edo State, which incidentally, is the State of the Association's President, Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

One of those in camp, Wale Omotosho, has promised to ensure that, he does everything within his reach,in terms of boxing, to make the eventual team that would be representing the country at the Commonwealth Games next year. He is also optimistic of making the final list to the commonwealth games because of his abilities in the ring. He disclosed that, his good foot walks and power-packed punches, are some of the vital asserts in the noble art of self-defense.

Meanwhile their female counterparts are still waiting for invitation letters. Some of them, who spoke with nigeriasports.com, spoke of their readiness to move into camp immediately their invitation letters reach them. One of the female boxers, who identified herself as Kemi Adebayo, representing Oyo State, said that although she encountered a little problems in her fight in Ibadan, promised to join the camp as soon as she was called.

Babatunde Laguda Secretary-General, Nigeria Amateur Boxing Coaches Association, is of the opinion that ,with this early camping, the boxers would be in the right frame of mind ahead of the Games.

"I know that with this early preparation, we would be in a better position to train the fighters and that also means that, they would be in shape and be ready to represent the nation, whenever they are called upon to do.

"It could afford us the privilege of being able to bring them to a level where they too, would be able to bring back lost glories that the country had lost in boxing."