Boxing stakeholders in Nigeria have firmly rejected attempts by certain individuals to move the country’s boxing federation from World Boxing to the International Boxing Association (IBA), describing the move as deceptive and detrimental to the future of Nigerian athletes.
World Boxing remains the only international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to govern the sport at the Olympic Games.
This means that any national federation not affiliated with World Boxing risks exclusion from Olympic boxing and other IOC-sanctioned events.
According to the concerned stakeholders, some foreign agents allegedly enticed with a financial grant of $2.3 million from the IBA are attempting to infiltrate the newly inaugurated board of the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) to manipulate its allegiance toward the Switzerland-based Association.
They therefore urged the leadership of the NBF to remain vigilant and resist all external pressures capable of derailing the country's legitimate standing in the global boxing community.
It would be recalled that the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, had earlier congratulated the new NBF board and advised it to uphold Nigeria’s Olympic aspirations by maintaining its affiliation with World Boxing.
In a similar vein, prominent Nigerian boxing veterans, including Joe Mensah, Isaac Ikhoria, Alhaji Masha, Pa Muili Ojo, Ajani Aremu, Bolaji Ezekiel, Omoruyi Roland, William Azano, Elder Joseph Osewa, Sabo Muhammed, Femi Baba Femi, and Joseph Sagotogun, have jointly appealed to the NBF to remain steadfast with World Boxing.
They also called on the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) to take proactive steps in curbing the activities of foreign agents attempting to exploit the nation’s sports system for personal or financial gain.
