Hon. Omonlei Imadu, Vice President, African Boxing (AfB)
According to reports made available to Throwback Times Nigeria, the vice president of African Boxing - African boxing Hon. Omonlei Imadu has said that the sports must be built on merit, fairness, and transparency, not backroom deals or personal interests. When a young boxer spends weeks training, sacrifices his education, and endures physical hardship only to discover that his victory or reward may depend on corridor negotiations rather than his performance in the ring, the damage extends beyond one contest. It destroys confidence, discourages talent, demoralises coaches, and makes parents question whether boxing offers a fair future for their children. When merit loses its place, the entire sport suffers.
Imadu explained approach to restore public confidence on the sports, according to him, he said that African Boxing must embrace accountability and impartiality. Competition outcomes must be determined by performances in the ring, while Olympic-style scorecards should be published on the AfB website within 24 hours to promote transparency. Independent panels must also handle protests and disciplinary matters, ensuring that no stakeholder with a conflict of interest participates in deciding a case. These reforms are essential to protecting athletes, strengthening institutions, and ensuring that sporting decisions withstand legitimate scrutiny.
African boxing has enormous potential to inspire young people and showcase the continent's sporting talent, but that potential can only be realised when boxers trust the system. Every athlete deserves to know that hard work will be recognised, performance will determine results, and justice will prevail regardless of personal connections or influence. Our responsibility as stakeholders is to protect the integrity of the sport and build a system where merit comes first, fairness is guaranteed, and every boxer has a genuine opportunity to succeed.
Credit: Throwback Times Nigeria
