By Adeyemi Robinson-Adefioye Lagos
An International Boxing Federation, IBF, certified referee, Segun Adesanya says lapses in branding Nigerian boxers is the major obstacle to the progress of the country’s boxers.
Adesanya in an exclusive interview with www.sunrisetimes.com.ng said branding of boxers in the country would go a long way adding that their value would be increased.
According to Adesanya, “when a boxer is branded he has more values to the boxers profile financially and otherwise. We still have a lot to be done but we are getting their gradually”.
Adesanya, WBC referee instructor further hinted that Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, (NBB of C) use to organize seminars for the boxers, managers and the promoters adding that the sponsors should not be left behind because sponsors should have knowledge of what they are investing on and the purpose of doling out the money for, would be exact what the promoters are using the money for.
Adesanya also explained the reasons many sponsors backed out was that some promoters don’t always keep to their agreement adding that the boxers also lack transparency.
“In the past we use to have seminars for boxers, managers and the promoters, also the sponsors are also to be carried along because sponsors are supposed to understand what they are spending their money on and they should be assured that the purpose of bringing out such funds will not be defeated.
“Not in the sense the sponsors will bring out the money and the boxers would not get what they bargain for. Some of the boxers disappoints when they are in the ring, they sometimes think they have arrived, they disappoint the managers, they disappoint the promoters and likewise the promoters and the managers should be transparent to the boxers, they should transparent in the sense that the boxers should be given what they are due for, as to encourage them.
“The boxers are the cynosure of the business, without the boxers, promoters have nothing to present for the show” Adesanya said.
