The annual Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament in Canada is here again and history is about to be made as boxers from Edo State Nigeria have been accredited to participate in the 2023 edition.
No boxing team from Nigeria has ever participated in the over 80 year boxing tournament which has become an annual event since the inception in 1939.
The boxers from Edo State, 6 of them alongside their coach, arrived Canada a couple of weeks back and they have been in a training camp ahead of the amateur boxing championship in Calgary, Alberta.
Sponsored by the Edo state Boxing Association Board, the boxers were welcomed to Canada by North America based duo of Albert Eromosele and Albert Onolunose Enahoro Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Boxing Association of Edo state, the major facilitators of the trip.
“The boxers are here to get their own experience of a life time. The coach is here to get exposed to modern training methods and equipment and we are believing that the boxers will make us proud”, Albert Eromosele, the Edo State Boxing Association Chairman quipped.
“This is a testimony to the fact that we are here to make a difference. We want to take boxing beyond Edo and Nigeria to the world and that’s why we are here. We emerged number 1 in boxing at the recently concluded National Youth Games in Asaba and now their seniors are in Canada. This is just a tip of the iceberg”, Albert Onolunose Enahoro, Vice-Chairman of the Edo State Boxing Association, added delightfully.
The boxers are;
1. Iyalekhue Eguabor 57kg
2. Mujeep Unusa 63,5kg
3. Godwin Uhunoma 71kg
4. Abudu Shaibu 82kg
5. Hilary Ojeikere 69kg
The Edo boxing head coach Lucky Chinyere Oshonogor is to undergo a 2 years coaching course as the Bowmont Boxing Club Academy have chosen him for their scholarship programme, meaning his school fees and accommodation is covered by the Boxing Academy.
The Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament Begins on October 14th in Caglary, Alberta.
