By Henry Ovie
Twenty-four female boxers are set to compete in a new women’s boxing tournament in Lagos on Sunday as organisers seek to raise the profile of female boxing and provide a platform for emerging athletes in Nigeria.
The inaugural Kehinde Joy Obareh Female Boxing Show will take place at the Brai Ayonote Gym inside the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, with bouts scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Organisers said the event, themed “She Fights, She Wins,” is designed to promote women’s participation in boxing, support young female athletes and increase public awareness of the sport.
A statement issued ahead of the competition said hundreds of spectators are expected to attend the one-day tournament, which will feature 24 boxers representing clubs from across Nigeria.
Among the participating clubs are Crown Boxing Club, LASU Boxing Club, Owonikoko Boxing Club, Aso Rock Boxing Club, Supreme Boxing Club, Always Boxing Club, Brightess Boxing Club and Morgan Boxing Club.
The event is named after Nigerian boxer and coach Kehinde Joy Obareh, who began her career in Lagos at the age of 15 before representing Nigeria in national and international boxing and kickboxing competitions.
According to the organisers, Obareh has won multiple medals during her career and recently completed an Advanced Diploma in Boxing Coaching and a Bronze Coaching Certificate in the United States.
She is currently studying Business Administration at Southern New Hampshire University in the United States while continuing to contribute to the development of boxing in Nigeria.
Women’s boxing has gained increasing recognition across Africa in recent years, with more countries investing in female athletes and expanding opportunities for women to compete at national, continental and international levels. Organisers say the Lagos competition is intended to contribute to that growth by providing regular competitive opportunities for female boxers.
