Maiden South East Amateur Boxing Championship Kicks-off in Umuahia 

The Abia State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba has declared open the Maiden South East Amateur Boxing Championship in Umuahia, reminding athletes that true sportsmanship is not only winning, but also about discipline, respect, and fair play.

Declaring the Championship open at the indoor sports complex of Umuahia Township stadium, Sir. Ananaba said that the championship marked a significant milestone in the collective effort to develop grassroots sports and provide a platform for young athletes to showcase their talents.

He commended the organizers; Abia state sports association and the Southeast Boxing Stakeholders for their vision, commitment, and the hard work in bringing this championship to reality.

He also thanked Governor Alex Otti, for his unwavering support for youth and sports development which he said has continued to transform the sporting landscape of Abia state.

“His administration has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to grassroots sports development, talent discovery, athlete empowerment, and provision for opportunity for young people to excel,” Ananaba said.

“This championship is another testament to the governor’s belief that sports remains a powerful tool for youth engagement, social inclusion, economic empowerment, and regional unity.”

Sir. Ananaba while congratulating athletes for qualifying to participate in this historic championship, further urged them to compete with dignity, uphold rules of the games, and make their state, coaches, and families proud.

“I encourage all participants to seize this opportunity to learn, improve, and build lasting friendship across the region. Let this competition serve as a platform to discover future champions who will represent our region and our nation in the bigger stage.”

In his remarks, Mr Nnamdi Oji, South-East Representative on the Board of the Nigeria Boxing Federation who said that boxing has not fared well in recent years unlike in the days of late Obisie Nwankpa, and Ngozika, Ekwelu, commended Abia State for undertaking to reignite and to rejuvenate sports, especially boxing in Southeast and beyond

Oji who was represented by a sports consultant, Mr Paul Ngadiuba, urged all participants, to be free, kind, and nice to each other, and contribute in bringing boxing back to life, assuring them of safety and support from the Governor.

Mr Bernard Ezeama, the South-East Zonal Sports Representative at the National Sports Commission described boxing as a very exciting sport that requires discipline and self-control.

Ezeama thanked the State government for hosting the maiden amateur boxing championship in the South East and urged them to sustain the tempo

“We thank Abia for this kind of gesture. I equally want to observe that the Abia state is structured and backed up with a lot of things that will enhance sport, grassroots sport development. And at the national body, we always encourage this.

“We always stand by you to see what you have planned come to fruition. I always say that Abia is the center of sport excellence in the southeast and we continue to dominate. So it is a pleasure that as this event goes on today, we are going to have our Athletes Talent Hunt discovered for further grooming.”

He urged the coaches to leverage the history of the late Obisie Nwankpa and contribute to the revival of boxing in Abia State expressing the hope that Abia would always be a reference point for boxers in Nigeria.

Earlier, the State Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George, described boxing as one of the sports that resonates with Abia which the state wants to develop, citing the days of late Obisie Nwankpa who traversed the length and breadth of the world through boxing.

He noted that Gov. Alex Otti has directed that a holistic development of sports in the state with special attention to boxing, expressing the hope that with the championship, boxers in the southeast will be revived.

“Opportunity they say, come but once’. I know that through this maiden gathering in Abia, whatsoever that is missing, that is wrong in boxing in the southeast, through this championship, I know it will be corrected and I know with the support of the state government, boxing will go far. Through this championship, I know that talent will be identified and through grooming them, they will go to places,” George said.

At the end of the first day, Ogbodo Israel from Enugu State defeated Ayu Jonah of Imo State in 60kg bout by unanimous decision while Abia’s Chidiebere Chukwuemka defeating Chigbo Aguji from Ebonyi State in the second bout of 65kg.