Ilaji Boxing Academy Begins Training Programme for First Batch of Young Boxers
Ilaji Boxing Academy has perfected preparations for the first batch of young boxers selected for its talent development programme, with the recruits expected to resume on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
The initiative follows an open scouting trial held on August 26, 2026, at Ilaji Hotels & Sports Resort, Akanran, Ibadan, as part of efforts to discover, nurture and develop the next generation of Nigerian boxing talents.
Under the programme, all boxers selected through the trial will be catered for by the academy, which will oversee their training, provide facilities, manage their development and take responsibility for their overall welfare and guardianship.
The academy’s initiative reflects Ilaji’s ambition to replicate its success in football in the sport of boxing by establishing a sustainable talent development structure capable of producing athletes who can compete on the national and international stages.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ilaji Hotels & Sports Resort, Okanlomo Dotun Sanusi, is known for his interest in boxing.
His contributions to the sport include sponsoring the World Boxing Federation (WBF) world title bout featuring Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola and establishing a world-standard boxing gym within the resort.
Speaking while addressing the coaches who discovered the selected boxers, the General Manager of Ilaji Hotels & Sports Resort, Ridwanulahi Akinola, said the academy had duly documented all the recruited young athletes as it began laying the foundation for a lasting legacy in global boxing.
“We have duly documented all the selected young boxers. The stage is set to build a long-lasting legacy in the global boxing world, just as we have done with football, while upholding the Ilaji name, which is synonymous with excellence in hospitality and sports,” Akinola said.
The programme marks another step in Ilaji’s growing investment in sports development, with the academy seeking to provide young boxers with structured training, professional guidance and the support needed to develop their potential and pursue successful boxing careers.
