By Jude Agbeyeke
It was a plethora of drama in the men’s and women’s boxing event at the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival as the trio of Akwa Ibom’s Elijah Chuks, Abu Ojele of Team Ondo and Buchi Okolo of Team Imo qualified for the semi-finals of the 88kg men’s event without throwing any punch.
The opponents of the three pugilists failed to show up for the quarterfinal bouts.
The drama continued as Emmanuella Ighomi of Team Delta claimed victory against Precious Osariemen of Edo State after the referee stopped the fight in the first round of the women’s 75kg category.
In the men’s 80kg event, Emmanuel Chuks claimed victory in the first round against Semilore Ikusika of Ondo State just as John Bosco Nnaeobona of Abia State also advanced after the referee stopped the bout in the first round of the event after David Chibueze of Imo State was deemed not capable of finishing the fight.
In the women’s 51kg Abasiama Robert of Cross River was in superb form. She punched past Oyinkansola Jimoh 5-0 of Ondo while Raheem Ridwan of Cross River pummelled Chidiebere Chukwuka of Abia 5-0.
Silva Adoke of Team River saw off Ilemo Ere of Bayelsa 4-1 in a split decision after three rounds in the women’s 63kg category.
In the men’s 75kg event, Ubi Uket of Cross River dominated Destiny Fubara from Team Rivers to claim a 4-1 split decision victory to advance to the semi-finals.
Agnes Afe of Ondo abandoned her fight with Dorcas Akpan of Akwa Ibom State as she could no longer contain the barrage of blows from Akpan.
In other fights, Queen James of Team Rivers outpunched her namesake Queen James from Bayelsa in the women’s 75kg category to win 5-2 in a split decision while Kenneth Onwuegbu of Abia overcame Chimobi Emeka of Team Delta 4-1 in a split decision.
The boxing event continues at the Community Secondary School, Uyo on Sunday.
