Mushin agog as Lagos state-backed maiden edition of the LSSC Individual Boxing Club Championship takes centre stage

Posted : 22 October 2024

The restive communities in Mushin came alive on Monday as the Lagos State Government, in conjunction with the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), kicked off the maiden edition of the LSSC Individual Boxing Club Championship.

The boxing competition, which features over 200 pugilists, is ongoing at Bishop Aggey Senior Secondary School in Mushin, Lagos.

The competition is set to run from Oct. 21 to 27.

The young pugilists who gathered for the 7-day tournament, designed to discover new talents for the state, were ecstatic about the event.

The championship includes male and female boxers from various registered boxing clubs in the state, with 13 male and 12 female weight categories.

The 13 male weight categories are: 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63.5kg, 67kg, 71kg, 75kg, 80kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 92+kg.

The female weight categories are: 48kg, 50kg, 52kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63kg, 66kg, 70kg, 75kg, 81kg, and 81+kg.

On Day 1, seven bouts were decided. Adeleke Lateef defeated Kayode Farouk, Yusuf Ayinde overcame Sherif Animashahun, Gbadeyan Mayowa beat Martins Malik, and Jesugbesan David overpowered Jimoh Bolaji.

In other bouts, Bodude Olamilekan beat Tony Ozumba, Ibukun Babalola stopped Kazeem Yusuf, and Olayiwola Ibrahim knocked out Rokeeb Jayeola.

Lekan Fatodu, the Director General (D-G) of LSSC, revealed in an exclusive interview that the state government’s grassroots sports initiatives were already yielding positive results.

He said the government’s efforts to promote sports in Lagos communities were gaining momentum, with growing support from sports enthusiasts.

"A lot of people in the community have seen what we are doing, and they are particularly interested in joining hands with the government and LSSC to support us."

"Just last week, a private sector player donated a gym facility to us at Teslim Balogun Stadium, and the same individual is building a similar boxing gym in Ikorodu."

"The Sports Commission is focusing on different communities where we can make an impact and use sports as a tool for engagement and opportunities for young people," Fatodu said.

He added that the local community appreciated the boxing competition, calling it a dream come true for the commission.

"I feel great that this competition is taking place in Mushin because it responds to the demands of our young people in Lagos State, particularly those interested in boxing."

"The decision to hold the competition in Mushin is because boxing is one of the sports deeply rooted in this community."

"We want to divert the attention of Mushin residents from vices and help them explore the potential in boxing," he said.

Fatodu emphasized the commission's commitment to grassroots sports, stating it would help identify talents for both the state and the country on the international stage.

"This is the beginning of something bigger for many young people in this community, and we are committed to ensuring they seize the opportunities presented by this competition," he added.

He also assured that promising talents discovered at the competition would receive proper mentorship to reach their full potential in boxing.

LSSC's Technical Director, Nunayon Travih, encouraged the young boxers to perform at their best, assuring that the top talents would be selected to represent the state at the 2025 National Sports Festival (NSF).

"Competitions like this help us discover and train young boxers, guiding them from amateur to professional levels."

"The sports commission has coaches and scouts in attendance to identify potential talents. We may not necessarily pick the winners but those with evident potential."

"Exceptional boxers will be selected for the next NSF, and they will be called for training, mentorship, and camping before November."

"This competition will serve as a platform to identify talented boxers for the state moving forward."

Mushin agog as Lagos state-backed maiden edition of the LSSC Individual Boxing Club Championship takes centre stage

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