Young Boxers Compete for N1.8m in Ogun State

A total of 24 young boxers from Ogun State will compete for N1.8 million in cash prizes today at the first RIYE U-17 Boxing Circuit. The event takes place at the Alake Sports Centre in Ijeja, Abeokuta.

The competition will have 12 bouts. Each of the 12 winners will get N100,000. The other 12 boxers will receive N50,000 each. Medals will also be given to all participants.

The boxers represent the four sporting zones in Ogun: Remo, Ijebu, Yewa, and Egba.

The event is organized by Tunde Delu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Youth Development, under the Young Athletes Yield Initiative.

Delu spoke at a press conference in Abeokuta on Thursday. He said all preparations for the event are complete. He explained that the RIYE Sports Circuit aims to find promising young athletes early and provide them with support to grow.

"The RIYE Sports Circuit is designed to identify young talents early, nurture them, and provide a structured pathway for their development. We are not just organizing competitions; we are building a system that will give promising athletes the chance to grow, improve, and represent Ogun State and Nigeria in the future," he said.

He also mentioned that the organizers are focused on keeping the competition safe and well-coordinated.

"We are committed to ensuring that this first U17 Boxing Circuit is safe, well-coordinated, and rewarding for all participants. Our goal is to encourage these young boxers, promote grassroots boxing, and create more chances for our youths to excel through sports," he said.

Delu noted that they had previously organized the RIYE U15 Athletics Championships. He mentioned plans to expand the circuit to include table tennis, gymnastics, and scrabble among other sports.

One of the boxers, Anuoluwapo Soyombo, known as Beast, promised an exciting fight. The 16-year-old said she is ready to win and that all 24 boxers have trained hard in recent weeks.

David Osuolale, the Secretary of the Ogun State Boxing Association, confirmed that all technical and safety standards for the competition have been met. Michael Azeez Ogunsiji, the Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria in Ogun State, and former boxing champion Sunday Michael also praised the initiative.

The venue is one of the facilities renovated ahead of the 2024 National Sports Festival, also called the Gateway Games, which Ogun State will host.