The secretary-general of Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Remi Aboderin has admitted that the pugilists’ sport that he promotes is not for lilly-livered men or women, as only hard people get involved in it, due to its reliance on punches to the face and body.
Sports247 reports that Aboderin, who is also the president of West African Boxing Union (WABU), made this declaration on the occasion of his 60th birthday, when a delegation of Progressive Professional Boxers Association of Nigeria (PPBAN) paid him a courtesy visit.
Aboderin, who is regarded as one of the most prominent voices and longest serving personalities in Nigeria’s boxing administration, went philosophical while repsonding to the gesture by PPBAN, whose president, Idris Afini said they decided to felicitate with him on his Diamond Jubilee.
Afini added that they resolved to also show appreciation to Aboderin for the strides he continues taking in developing professional boxing in Nigeria since taking charge of the sport, while recalling where it lay before his emergence and where it has reached under his watch.
The delegation, which included the vice-president, Obinna Mathew; general-secretary, Sikiru Sogbesan; assistant general-secretary, Hamza Idris; and treasurer, Samuel Opaogun, among others, also expressed confidence that boxing will grow further under NBB of C president, Dr Rafiu Oladipo.
While pledging their readiness to embrace reforms introduced for the health, welfare and remuneration of boxers, the PPBAN representatives urged Aboderin not to rest on his laurels and to ignore all detractors, assuring him that the professional boxing fraternity is solidly behind the NBB of C.
In his reponse, Aboderin said he was deeply honoured by the visit and the birthday gift they presented to him, adding that he will continue giving his best to take boxing to greater height, because being in the sport has taught him how to face all challenegs frontally and fight hard to overcome.
Aboderin averred, “Hard times don’t last, but hard people do. Though (boxing) is called the gentleman’s sport, only hard people get involved in it. Thus, no matter the obstacles we are facing now, they will be surmounted by His Grace and by the unity of all, because we are no lily-livered people.”
, Remi Aboderin has admitted that the pugilists' sport that he promotes is not for lilly-livered men or women, as only hard people get involved in it, due to its reliance on punches to the face and body.){kind=link}