The General Secretary of Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Remi Aboderin has come out with an emphatic declaration that his group is the only body recognised in Nigeria to regulate professional activities in the pugilists’ sport.
Sports247 reports that Aboderin also stressed that the recent efforts by Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) to take over the NBB of C’s role cannot work, because they are not recognised to regulate professional activities.
He stated this with an emphatic tone, while speaking at length on Sports247’s weekly television programme, Inside Naija Sports, during which he stressed that Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) is not authorised to regulate professional boxers or sanction pro-fights in the country.
Aboderin, who is also the president of West African Boxing Union (WABU), added during ‘Hot Seat’ segment of the programme, which is aired via YouTube and NTA News24, that the NBF is an amateur association affiliated to the National Sports Commission (NSC).
The vastly experienced boxing administrator, analyst and promoter added that officials of the NBF must follow NSC’s directive that they are meant to concentrate only on amateur boxing.
“The NBF is an agency under the umbrella of the National Sports Commission, and they receive money from the NSC to run their activities.
“I have a letter from the D.G. of the National Sports Commission, Mr Bukola Olopade, who stated clearly that the NBF is not recognised as a professional body and they should not be involved in pro-boxing.
“The body recognised for pro-boxing in Nigeria is the NBB of C. Unfortunately, because of the kind of people we have in Nigeria, some people are going against the superior authority.
“The father said, ‘This is where I want you to sit’ – that’s talking about the National Sports Commission – but the son said, ‘No, I want to go to the other side’ – that’s the NBF.
“The NBF wants to be in charge of professional boxing, but that’s not done anywhere in the world,” Aboderin reiterated with strong affirmation.
He concluded by admitting that the NBB of C is currently facing many setbacks arising from the NBF’s recent incursion into boxing’s professional activities and operations in Nigeria, which has brought a negative impact on the body’s international image.
“Without beating round the bush, hitting the nail on the head, if I say this is not affecting the NNB of C adversely, I would be lying; but I believe it will eventually be for the good of Nigerian boxing overall.
“For now, though, we have to keep looking for a way out. At the moment, it has even spilled over internationally, and we are working hard to put things in order.
“A non-governmental organisation called BoxRec, which is based in England and owned by a couple, John Shepherd and his wife, are withdrawing their support for us.
“They have directives from the international Association of Boxing Commissions to be the gatekeeper of records in the sport, but some unscrupulous people in the NBF went to dig up some long forgotten so-called infractions that they sent to BoxRec, just to smear the image of NBB of C.
“However, we are about to overcome that plot, because I have clearly written back all that they have thrown across the internet are lies and fallacies.
“It’s because we are getting better; that’s why they are trying to run us down. There is more money coming into professional boxing in Nigeria.
“Our boxers are now earning from $7m to $10m, as seen in the fight between Agbaje and Tosin. Professional boxing is now better in Nigeria, and it will continue getting better,” Aboderin projected.
, Remi Aboderin has come out with an emphatic declaration that his group is the only body recognised in Nigeria to regulate professional activities in the pugilists' sport.){kind=link}