Organisers of the maiden edition of Next Rated Young Stars have announced the date and venue for the amateur boxing tournament.
Also, the organisers unveiled the 20 male and female selected boxers that will feature in different weight categories.
According to the organisers, the tournament will come up on Sunday June 20 2021 inside the Indoor sports hall, Teslim Balogun stadium, Lagos.
The 20 boxers that will take part in the maiden edition are, for the males: Michael Adesodun (60kg) Dolapo Omole (56Kg) Adefemi Adesegun (59kg) Faruq Shittu –Afolabi (52kg) Raji Adedokun (56kg) Abiodun Oluwaseun-Samuel (58kg) Peter Odunme (91kg) Ismail Sanusi (69kg) Israel Makinde (49kg) Faruq Taofeek (49kg) and Gabriel Francis (91kg).
And for the female category: Olamide Mustapha (60kg) Oluwatobi Odushina (60kg) Ayisat Oriyomi (51kg) Shukurat Kareem (51kg) Blessing Oraekwe (69kg) Mary Ifeoluwa (69kg) Adijat Gbadamosi (54kg) and Oluwapelumi Adewale (54kg).
Speaking with Completesports.com in an interview, Jeffrey Armah, son of legendary Nigerian boxer and coach, Joe Mensah, who are the main organisers, said the aim of the tournament is to help Nigeria discover the first gold medalist in boxing at the Olympic games.
Jeffrey Armah, son of legendary Nigerian boxer and coach, Joe Mensah
According to Armah, Nigeria is blessed with very good boxers who have what it takes to not just compete at the Olympics but also win gold.
And he believes the Next Rated Young Stars boxing tournament is a very good platform where potential gold medalist can be discovered for Nigeria.
“Since Nigeria have been participating in boxing event at the Olympics, the country has only been able to win silver and bronze medals,” Armah said. “And the last time we came back with a medal was at the 1996 games in Atlanta.
“With the abundance of talented boxers in Nigeria we need to do better and I can confidently say Next Rated Young Stars is one platform which can produce for Nigeria a gold medal winner at the Olympics.“
On what will make Next Rated Young Stars different from other amateur boxing tournaments in Nigeria, Armah said: “Next Rated Young Stars will be different from previous amateur boxing tournaments in terms of the packages for the boxers and the event. We want to create a situation whereby there will be media spotlight on the boxers because we believe they are all champions in their own rights.
“It’s not going to be the usual; it is going to be different we can promise that. And with plans that have been put in place, people should expect nothing but the best.”
And on what impact his legendary father, Mensah, would have on the tournament as main organiser: “He will have a very big impact because he is a household name when it comes to boxing in Nigeria.
“He is someone who has paid his dues when it comes to boxing in Nigeria and now being a part of Next Rated Young Stars, this will serve as motivation for the boxers who would want to emulate his achievement in the sport.”
Armah added: “Boxers who believe they have what it takes to be a part of Next Rated Young Stars boxing tournament, should visit our website, www.nextratedafrica.com, fill out their details or contact us via whatsapp 08083307818.“
