The first amateur tournament of the World Boxing Council and the African Boxing Union concluded in Lagos, Nigeria, over the weekend saw Nigerian boxers win 10 of the 11 fights decided on the last day of the tournament in very close contests.
Forty two boxers from eight African countries participated in various weight categories at the tournament, held at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Organized by Yucateco Boxing Promotions, the first WBC-ABU Amateur Tournament serves as a qualifier to select the boxers who will represent Africa at the upcoming WBC World Amateur Championships.
President of the African Boxing Union, Houcine Houichi, stressed the need to have more such competitions that will allow amateur boxers to have exposure to international competitions.
“What Yucateco has done should be commended by boxing nations around the world because it is truly innovative in Africa, the WBC and ABU will continue to collaborate with Yucateco to advance the course of amateur boxing in Africa.”
“I am sure that other boxing teams in Africa have been encouraged by what Yucateco has done. My friend Omonlei Imadu, leader of Yucateco, has set the pace and it is time for others to show their willingness to continue collaborating.”
The three-day tournament began with a WBC-ABU referees and judges course to update and improve the knowledge of ring officials, who received certificates during the championship closing ceremony.
