Nigeria Boxing Federation Repositions Pro Boxing With Leadership Change

Nigeria Boxing Federation Repositions Pro Boxing With Leadership Change

By Our Reporter 

The Nigeria Boxing Federation has ratified the appointment of Azania Omo-Agege as chairman of its Professional Boxing Committee, as part of ongoing efforts to reposition the sport in the country, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Omo-Agege, a former vice president of the federation, also served briefly as its interim president toward the end of the previous board’s tenure. He brings extensive administrative experience, including a stint as vice president of the African Boxing Confederation, where he was credited with initiating reforms aimed at developing boxing across Africa.

The federation expressed confidence that his appointment would help address longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s professional boxing scene, citing his local and international experience as critical to ongoing reform efforts.

The move follows growing concerns within the global boxing community over the operations of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, which has reportedly faced rejection from leading international organizations, including the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization, as well as BoxRec.

These bodies have raised concerns over issues such as alleged age falsification, questionable fight outcomes, and financial irregularities. Consequently, they have opted to engage directly with the Nigeria Boxing Federation, which is recognized by law as the governing body for boxing in the country.

The NBF said the decision to take a more active role in professional boxing oversight has become necessary, particularly following recent changes allowing certain professional boxers to compete at the Olympic Games. Under current regulations, professional fighters with 15 bouts or fewer are eligible for Olympic participation.

According to the federation, it will now assume responsibility for monitoring professional boxing activities and maintaining accurate records of Nigerian fighters, rather than relying on external bodies.

The NBF leadership also commended the National Sports Commission for its stance against unethical practices such as age falsification, and acknowledged its support during the reform process. It noted that these efforts align with broader initiatives to strengthen governance and integrity within Nigerian sports.

The federation further suggested that the Commission may not have been fully informed about the activities of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, reiterating that the NBF remains the legally recognized authority responsible for overseeing all boxing activities in the country.