By Maduabuchi Kalu on March 20, 2017

Anambra State Boxing Head Coach, Innocent Nwokocha, has revealed that plans are underway for a boxing summit in the state. He explained that the boxing summit is going to a big event as boxers from the state are expected to gather to brain storm on how to move the game forward in the state.

According to the coach who is popularly known and addressed as ‘Parelar Oppenente’ the sports loving Governor of the state, Willie Obiano, wants all the people who can contribute to the development of the game to gather and brainstorm to move the sport forward. He explained that the event will involve both active and not active boxers from Anambra State.

Coach Nwokocha disclosed this in exclusive interview with The Oracle Today Sports recently in Onitsha.

“I would like to disclose to you that a big boxing event is coming up soon in the state. The event will involve boxers from Anambra State whether they are resident in the state or they are outside the state.

“The Governor wants all of them who can contribute to the development of the noble game of boxing to come together to fashion out ways of moving the game forward,” Nwokocha explained.

“I mean people like Charles Udalor, who was once a national heavy weight boxing champion, he is from Aguleri, where the governor comes from.  And we have somebody like Ngozi Ekwebelem who is an African champion, though he is retired today; we want them to help the government in this field of boxing to revive the game.

“Therefore, I am appealing to Anambrarians today, we should buckle up and come back and withhold what they had.

“In the East, we had many boxers who are no more in the field and nobody remembers them. We want them to come out and contribute to the development of boxing in the state. Those people who represent us every day because God has made it that they must come from the East.

“That’s why I have been planning; begging people to join us to help build a team. And whe reason I am calling on them is because many of them are not in the national team.

If they are able to make it and not only in amateur but also in the professional line, like what we have sometimes ago, People like Obisia Nwankpa, Ibraham Tonika, Mama Clay, Eddy Peterson, these are people from the East who were doing well then in the field of boxing. Davison Andeh, from Ugwueme here, Anthony Andeh from Otoku-Mmaku, though they started in Bendel, but they were all our children.

“What I am saying is that I want them to come back for us to rebuild what we are known for, because we are known in the South East as good boxers. I can remember somebody called Akukali sometime ago and someone called Albert Igwe, Man Mountain from Uturu Okigwe where I come from. So, there is need for us to rebuild what we are known for,” Coach Nwokocha said

“It is a pity that when you come to Anambra State we don’t have a boxing ring, which is very shameful. When we are talking about boxing ring we are talking about complete boxing ring that has four ropes and not a boxing ring with three rings.

“If we want a boxing ring we have a land where they can build a boxing ring and a standard gym. We want to have a complete boxing ring whereby boxers can run outside and return to the gym to do the real practical work.

“We also have female champions in the South East. Our girls are out there, representing other states and when you hear their names nobody will tell you where she is coming from. So, if we can make it now, better.  I appeal to well-meaning Anambrarians and philanthropists to assist the government in developing sports infrastructure in the state because government has a lot to take care of and they cannot be jack of all trade and master of none. Let the people who are interested in boxing come out and identify with us in the state because we are in dire need of assistance.

“Boxing is a very lucrative game because if you go to the United States of America, I know what boxers earn over there. Though they spend the money in training their athletes or boxers and at the same time they make a lot of money in return.”

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 20, 2017

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