As part of its efforts to develop Olympics grade boxers in the country, Yucateco boxing promotions have staged a one day boxing championship in Kano state.
The event held at the Sports Arena of the Nigerian Army Brigade Headquarters Bukavu Barracks in Kano, featured pugilists from Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, and host Kano state.
The championship tagged “Reigniting The North-West Boxing Culture” headlines the week-12 hostilities of the ongoing Yucateco boxing league. With 24 pugilists on the 12 bouts fight card, the tournament gave boxing fans plenty to savour. Here are some of the results.
In the 46-48 kg contest, Zakariyya Ado from Kaduna defeated Abubakar Salisu of Zamfara state, Sani Ali Bashir from Katsina lost to Muhammad Tarik of Kano.
The 54 kg brawl also brought about some gusty battles as Abubakar Ibrahim of Kano triumphed over Rabiu Yahuza of Sokoto, Ali Rabiu from Katsina downed Faruk Ibrahim, Bashir Ali of Katsina came tops over Iro Ibrahim of Kano state.
Some of the highpoints of the event was the presentation of the prestigious Yucateco Boxing Recognition Award to selected sports stakeholders in the North-West zone, as well as the donation of boxing gloves and other training equipment to the Kano State Boxing Association by Yucateco Boxing Promotions.
The initiator of the event the Chief Executive Officer of Yucateco boxing promotions Omonlei Yakubu Imadu, said the aim behind the championship is to reawaken the boxing culture in the Northern region.
“The North has so much boxing potentials that has been left undiscovered for too long. Championship of this nature is important in our quest to bring boxing back to its glory days in this part of the country”.
The President of the Boxing Promoters Association of Nigeria (BPAN) further announced Yucateco’s readiness to sponsor selected boxing referees and judges from the North-West for the International Boxing Association (IBA) training course in the coming months.
” We are not just focusing on the boxers, boxing development is holistic hence our resolve to sponsor selected referees and Judges for the next (IBA) training programs, this I believe will immensely upgrade their knowledge of the game”.
The Special guest of honour Brig. Gen. A.M Tukur, Commander 3 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, urged more individuals and corporate bodies to emulate the Yucateco boxing development model.
” This is a very laudable initiative and I must commend Mr. Omonlei Imadu for bringing this to Kano, Nigerian boxing needs a more pragmatic approach to get back to its glory days and it’s heartwarming to note that Yucateco is already taking a lead by introducing a novel boxing league”
A total of 305 bouts have been completed in the ongoing Yucateco boxing league with 12 accredited boxing clubs vying for the grand prize of N50 Million naira.
