Watch your health, medical experts warn professional boxers

Watch your health, medical experts warn professional boxers

Saturday, February 20, 2016 10:34 am


Jerry Okorodudu (left) and Joe Lasisi at the seminar   durung the GOtv Boxing NextGen Search in Lagos

Jerry Okorodudu (left) and Joe Lasisi at the seminar durung the GOtv Boxing NextGen Search in Lagos

Taiwo Adelu

Medical experts have warned Nigerian professional boxers to take their medicals very serious to avoid unforeseen incidents that can terminate their career prematurely.

Doctors, who spoke at the sport/medical seminar at the just concluded GOtv Boxing NextGen Search at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, urged the boxers to be mindful of their nutrition, physical and mental fitness as well as going for regular medical check up.

According to the doctors, boxers with sound health have good chances of attaining greatness in the pugilist trade than those who don’t take their health serious.

To Dr. Moses Ani, Medical Director, Hovas Place Hospital, Lagos, boxers should have decent daily nutrition notwithstanding the harsh economic situation in the country. He also warned that boxers should avoid cholesterol built food.

Boxers during one of the sparring sessions at the GOtv    Boxing NextGen Serach at the Lagos Hall of Fame Gym in Surulere

Boxers during one of the sparring sessions at the GOtv Boxing NextGen Serach at the Lagos Hall of Fame Gym in Surulere

“Boxers should not starve themselves before going for a fight or think of reducing their weight. This is because boxers need an optimum level of glucose in their bodies in the course of fight to gain energy,” Dr. Ani said.

President General of Nigerian Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rauf Ladipo called on the boxers to take the advantage of the medical seminar to improve on their health life.

“The seminar which was given free of charge today is actually being paid for elsewhere. That is why I want these professional boxers to take this advantage to maintain good health living,” Ladipo said.

The medical seminar climaxed three day of talent hunt in the GOtv Boxing NextGen Search where over 82 screened amateur boxers underwent sparring sessions before a panel of seasoned boxing coaches, who at the end of the exercise, selected 28 to be given professional licences.

Out of the 28 successful boxers, 15 were further selected for camping at the Lagos Boxing hall of Fame gym in Surulere.

These boxers, according to Mr. Jenkins Alumona, CEO of Flykite Productions, will be in camp for 10 to 14 days under the watchful eyes of three residence coaches; Joe Mensah, Isiaka Olatunji and Shehu Yusuf.

Jenkins Alumona

Jenkins Alumona

“Our plan is to have four of the boxers featuruing at the next GOtv Boxing Night coming up in March,” Alumona said to the applause of the successful boxers.

The 15 boxers include, Abdulateef Ganiyu (feather weight), Muritala Akeem (light-weight), Osamudiame Goodluck (light-weight), Nwoye Prince (welter weight), Samuel Elegbede (super welterweight), Saheed Lawal (super welterweight) Donald Chukwuebuka (super welterweight), Ebubechukwu Edeh (super welterweight), Ganiyu Kolawole (super welterweight), Obinna Mathew (super middleweight), Chibuzor Vincent (cruiserweight), Durojaiye Nurudeen (Heavyweight), Ebenezer Okoli (heavyweight), Michael Godwin (heavyweight) and Olatunji Olajide (heavyweight).

Alumona disclosed that the licences and other necessary needs of the boxers are already taken care by the sponsors Gotv.


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