Edun Inspires Boxers for Upcoming Championships

Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame founder and Nigeria Boxing Federation President, Wale Edun, has called on young boxers to stay disciplined and focused. This comes as the first Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame IBILE Divisional Championships heats up before the year-end Governor’s Belt competition.

Edun shared this message at the Ikeja Divisional Championships held at Agege Stadium over the weekend. Michael Bolarinwa stood out as the Best Boxer after a great performance.

The tournament was put together by the LBHF in partnership with the Lagos Amateur Boxing Association. This event is the first of five divisional contests under the IBILE format. Champions from these divisions will later compete for the sought-after Governor’s Belt this year.

Looking back at the success of this initiative, Edun mentioned that these championships are the result of years of effort to boost grassroots boxing in Lagos.

"This is the culmination of all our efforts since 2009 when the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame Monthly Saturday Boxing Show started. Then-Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) asked us to revive boxing and give young athletes a chance to show their talent. We have kept going with resilience, determination, and a strong focus on the care and safety of the boxers.

"The divisional champions will keep facing each other until the Governor’s Belt, where the IBILE Champion of Lagos will be named in 2026. This setup ensures recognition and growth for the boxers. They are not just fighting; they are aiming to be seen as champions. At the LBHF and the Nigeria Boxing Federation, we are dedicated to encouraging young athletes to lead healthy, disciplined lives and celebrating their wins whenever possible."

That night, Bolarinwa took home the Best Boxer award after defeating Taiwo Rokeeb in the men’s 50kg final with a unanimous 5-0 score, earning N250,000 in cash.

The 12-bout tournament also included two exhibition matches that ended in draws. Many fighters qualified as Ikeja Division representatives for the Governor’s Belt finals.

After his victory, Bolarinwa shared his joy about his performance and hopes to represent Nigeria.

"I think my performance was 100 per cent today because of my skills. I feel so happy and excited to be part of this championship. It was not easy from the trials to the final, so I thank God for the victory.

"Very soon I hope to represent Nigeria because I’m already a national champion, a silver medallist at the 2023 National Youth Games, and a gold medallist in 2024. I will represent Lagos State at the National Intermediate Games this year, and I hope everything goes well from here to representing Nigeria."

LBHF Director David Mohamed spoke about the launch of the IBILE Divisional Championships as the realization of a long-held dream.

"This is our founder's idea. Our monthly boxing show has been ongoing for over 25 years, and we wanted to bring in more competition and structure. Today marks the very first divisional championships, and we are happy about it.

"The divisional contests are qualifiers for the Governor’s Belt, which has been a top event for over 15 years. It honors the best in Lagos State. By December, champions from all divisions will come together for the Governor’s Belt."