Yucateco Boxing Promotions in conjunction with Africa’s premier boxing organisation is set to host a historic inaugural Yucateco World Boxing Council amateur boxing championship in Lagos, The PUNCH reports.
The historic boxing tournament has been scheduled to take place in Lagos from February 6 to 8 at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The event will feature pugilists from Kenya, Uganda, Togo, Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Cameroon and Nigeria.
Speaking at the media parley in Lagos on Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer of Yucateco boxing promotions, Omonlei Imadu, confirmed that the tournament would serve as a qualifier for the boxing World Cup in Mexico later this year.
“I am happy my promotion has finally made this happen; bringing the first ever WBC amateur tournament to Africa is not child’s play, and I am most importantly very happy that this will be happening in my beloved country, Nigeria,” he said.
“We are bringing the world to Lagos, and this truly delights me. The president of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaimán, as well as the president of the Africa Boxing Union Houcine Houichi, will both be in Nigeria with their team for the event.
“This groundbreaking event will also serve as a qualifier for the first ever WBC amateur boxing World Cup later in the year in Mexico.”
Imadu, who also doubles as the president of the Boxing Promoters Association of Nigeria, said the Most Valuable Boxers in each weight category will be decorated with the prestigious WBC Amateur title belt.
“Aside from securing their spot at the maiden WBC Amateur Boxing World Cup, outstanding pugilists in each weight category will also have to keep the WBC Amateur title belt.”
“There will be title belts for the winners in male and female categories and the belts are expected to arrive in Nigeria in the next two days.”
Also speaking at the media parley, Saleh Gloves Promotions founder, Saleh Fawaz, believed that the maiden WBC Amateur Boxing tournament in Africa has signalled a new dawn for amateur boxing development in the continent.
“This is a prestigious event and all the participants in the tournament will be rated by the WBC and the event also provides the opportunity to participate in the World Cup slated later this year in Mexico.
“I have been in Nigeria for almost nine years and in those years I don’t think we’ve had anything like this. This is not just a groundbreaking event, it is the beginning of tomorrow.”
