Kelvin EkereteNigerian amateur boxers say they may dump the amateur ranks under the supervision of the Nigeria Boxing Federation for their professional careers due to poor treatment, as effects of the coronavirus pandemic bite hard on them. Arinze Franklin, who represented Nigeria at the 2019 African Games in Morocco in the 57kg category, described the boxers’ conditions as “appalling”, saying his dream is to turn pro in the United States. “Nigeria has a lot of talented boxers who will produce results if they invest in us, just like countries are doing. National boxing captain, Taiwo Abiodun, says his decision to turn pro is due to age and the pandemic. US-based heavyweight boxing sensation, Efe Ajagba, and cruiserweight pugilist, Efetobore Apochie, dumped their amateur status to turn pro in the US in 2017.

Source: Punch July 21, 2020 22:52 UTC