Plane crash bashes Abuja boxing showcase

Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, NBB of C's orchestrated continental boxing fiesta tagged 'African Boxing Showdown, Abuja' will not hold on December 14, 2005 as earlier scheduled...no thanks to the recent plane crash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which was reported to have claimed many lives.

Reports reaching us from the office of the NBB of C, have it that, the December boxing showcase, which was expected to feature four African title bouts, two national and two undercard fights; one of which is the first female professional fight ever in Africa, has now been shifted to December 20, 2005.

The postponement, nigeriasports.com was hinted, was due to the 3-day mourning period directive by the Federal Government of Nigeria in respect and prayer for the repose of those involved in the crash.

According to Lawrence Olisa, Secretary-General, NBB of C "everything about the boxing show is still intact. We have already sent messages to both the boxers and the President, African Boxing Union, ABU to this effect.

"In like manner, we have notified all the dignitaries, who had shown interest in the continental boxing showcase and informed them of the new date," Olisa told nigeriasports.com on phone.