The uncertainty surrounding boxing featuring at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France has been laid to rest by the President of African Boxing Confederation(AFBC), Azania Omo-Agege Siena .
Omo-Agege who is the Deputy President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation(NBF)took over the leadership of the continental body when he replaced former President, Bertrand Mendouga from Cameroon, confirmed that boxing is going to feature as a scoring event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“Boxing will be competed for at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as a scoring event” he stated, but quickly added that it is not all the weight categories that will be competed for as some have been removed.
He hinted that Africa will be having their Olympic qualifying Championship in Dakar, Senegal between September 9 and 15, 2023 where the entire continent will be fighting for only18 slots (11 women’s and 7 men’s weight categories).
The women’s weight class to compete for medals include; Light Flyweight 50kg (2); Bantamweight 54kg(2); Featherweight 57kg (2); Lightweight 60kg (2);
Welterweight 66kg (2); Middleweight 75kg (1).
In the Men’s categories, there will be contests in; Flyweight 51kg (1); Featherweight 57kg (1); Light-welterweight 63.5kg (1 ); Light-middleweight 71kg (1); Light-heavyweight 80kg (1); Heavyweight 92kg (1); and
Super-heavyweght ±92kg (1).
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Boxing Federation last Wednesday invited 14 boxers and three coaches to camp ahead of the Olympic Games qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal
According to the Secretary General of NBF, Mr. Dapo Akinyele, the Brai Ayonote Boxing Gymwill serve as training venue for the invited boxers. They include; Wahab Kukoyi, Rilwan Raheem, Fatai Moshood, Onwuania Ephraim and Adesina Zainab.
Others include; Ojo Joy, Damilola Shodipe, Omola Dolapo, Ige Ridwan, Sunday God’stime, Hyginus Maduchukwu, Oyesiji Adeolu, Kemi James and Cynthia Ogunsemilore. The three coaches to handle the boxers include; Tony Konyegwachie, US-based Adura Olalehin and Mosunmola Yinka Adeoti.
