BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Aa part of its commitment and contribution to the boxing industry in Nigeria, YUCATECO Boxing Promotions recently honoured some Nigerian boxers who made this country proud in the year past with Life Time Achievement & Merit Award.
The highly anticipated Yucateco/Ministry of Sports Lifetime Achievement Merit Awards was held at Ikeja recently in Lagos with the minister of sports and youths development, Senator John Enoh gracing the ceremony which had the Majority Leader of the House Of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvbere as the chairman of the occasion.
The boxing awards which was supported by the Sports Minister, Senator Enoh in line with the agenda on athletes recognition and appreciation, was designed to celebrate Nigerian boxers who performed creditably well for the country.
Among the boxers awarded are women boxing Pioneer, Edith Agu; Nigerian boxing Umpire with the most appearances at international games, 2011 All African Games bronze medalist,Muyili Ojo, Former National Boxing Coach,Lawal Olaiwola, Ogun State boxing pioneer, Joseph Mensah and Boxing umpire, Ajani Aremu, Abdullahi Masha and coach Samson Aransiola.
Others include Nigeria’s most decorated umpire, Adesanya Ayodele, current National coach, Anthony Konyegwachie; Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Sabo Mohammed; former national middleweight champion, Isaac Ikhouria and President, Nigeria Boxing Federation Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah (Retired)
Late Hogan Bassy, the first Nigerian to win a world title was honoured posthumously while minister of sports development, senator Enoh also received Lifetime Achievement awards.
The high point of the awards ceremony was presentation of a brand new card to the most valuable boxer of the maiden Yucateco Boxing League, AbdulRahman Abdulwahab.
The youngster from of ESPITA Boxing club had undefeated record of 7 fights and 7 wins to emerge the best boxer of the season one.
Speaking with journalists, the founder of Yucateco Boxing Promotions, Omonlei Yakubu Imadu said the award ceremony was put together as part the promotions commitment to the growth of the sport of celebrating Nigeria’s boxing heroes, alive and in death.
He furthered said Yucateco promotions is building state of the art Boxing Gym to further enhance the growth of the sport and announced the season two of the boxing league scheduled to commence next month with 24 clubs participating.
The debut season of the league which ran for months across five states was concluded in Lagos in February with over 200 boxers representing 8 boxing clubs.
