Lagos Boxers Shine In London.

Team Lagos defeated selected team of the London amateur boxing association at the annual Sir Henry Cooper boxing classics held at the Royal Lancaster hotel on Thursday night in London.

The all black tie dinner event and a night of a worthy course was used to aid the Bud Flanagan leukemia fund with proceeds going to the Royal Marsden Hospital while using the platform of the tournament to ‎exposed and encouraged the boxers on their careers.

Team Lagos got off to a wining start with Nike Salami out punched her opponent in the 56kg bantam weight, Valerian Spicer and claimed a unanimous decision victory.

Taiwo Agbaje and Riliwan Oladosu followed up with two more victories in 56kg bantamweight and 60kg light welterweight categories against Reece Bellotti and Mo Gharib respectively, both also unanimous decision.

 Femi Akintayo and Gabriel Francis capped a remarkable night for the team with technical know out wins against Robert Garvey and Armindo Lopez as team Lagos recorded 5 wins against London select 's 3 wins.

Speaking after the team triumph, permanent secretary, ministry of youth, sports and social development, Dr Abiola Awonuga who lead the delegation to London said the boxers did the state proud.


"This is good, it is what we expected. The performance of the boxers was so supper they really proved that they prepared for this and that the preparation was not in vain.

We keep talking about exposure though they performed more than the other side today. I am sure they learnt some techniques and I am sure that next time they will be better.

The organization is impressive, this is very good, everybody here is very happy especially for the fact that a big part of it is going to charity. We really very happy to be part of this. And for our boys they have been able to show their talent to a different audience.

They have really prepared they have been in camp now from three weeks, and we expected them to win and they did. This is all about the boxers and I hope they have built the confident they need to continue on the world stage, she said.


In his own remarks, chairman, Lagos boxing ‎hall of fame, prince Olawale Edun said he was pleased with achievement of the team.

 "Its a very enjoyable and interesting evening. The referees and judges did us proud with the officiating. The are on top of things here tonight. The boxers themselves have done well. They have won five of the fights with two knockouts.
What I can say is that I am very pleased with boxers especially the young ones like Christian Abua who is just 17. He has learnt so much being on the ring tonight. The determination of Akintayo and Francis, who when it seemed that they were losing came back and had a knockout.

They came through at the end and showed share strength and courage to actually triumph. We are grateful that at this maiden trip to London our team had performed impeccably.

They have been fortunate to go with victory as it is the almighty God that gives victory" he said.

Edun thanked the Lagos state government for facilitating the trip to London while charging elite corporate Nigeria to support the government.

"What I think we should take away is that earlier a selected amateur boxing team from Lagos triumphed over the Repton Boxing Club of London. Now it is a selected team from Lagos triumphing over a selected team from London.  So we are just improving.

Don’t forget that in 2010 we started with a lose to Repton. Now we can defeat the best boxers selected from all the clubs in London.

There were some national champions in there, it was very competitive match, we could see the show of sportsmanship, and what I have to say is that we saw the corporate elite of London supporting this fund raising event, so our own wealthy elites in Nigeria should come out and support our young stars.

We have to engage them and give them opportunity to express themselves and on their part they will do what they do today and excel in all sports and fields on endeavor".