The task of re-enacting Nigeria’s strides in international boxing at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games has fallen on the shoulders of Adam Olaore, and Cynthia Ogunsemilore since the forced withdrawal of Dolapo Omole from the Games.
 
Omole, a 57kg fighter, was forced to withdraw from the competition because of an injury he sustained during his preparations.
 
This unfortunate incident means that Nigeria has only two boxers at the Games. But one of the remaining boxers, Olaore, sees his compatriot’s withdrawal, as bad as it is, as a fillip to rise above the competition in Paris.
 
Before arriving in Paris, Olaore, a light-heavyweight star, had won the English national amateur boxing title, a tournament that helped mould the careers of Olympic champions Anthony Joshua, and Nicola Adams.

Now, he wants to display his powerful punching power on a global canvas, where only the best are allowed to climb into the rings.
 
Looking forward to the battles in Paris, the 21-year-old Nigerian and African champion, told the media that the world is about to see a new champion.
 
“I am a hunter. The thing I believe people see when I box is how I want to win, I want it more than everyone else. I want it so much,” he said.
 
With such nicknames as “Big Future,” “The Champion,” and “Machine,” because of how hard he hits his opponents, Olaore said he is in the mood for great things, adding: “Only the best is what I want to be. That’s why I never really take challenges for the elite sport because they want to be the best in the weight class, the best in the sport.”
 
While no Nigerian boxer competed at Tokyo 2020, Olaore qualified for Paris 2024 last September and then also took the African Games title earlier this year.  
  
His achievement is even more impressive when considering the background that he only became a heavyweight after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) scrapped his preferred lighter-weight division.
 
Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic medal came in boxing in 1964. Five more arrived by 1996, but they are yet to add to that total. Olaore is eyeing gold with laser-guided focus.
 
He chanced upon his sport as a 14-year-old when a friend spotted a boxing gym as they walked around “bored” in his hometown, and his self-belief has grown with his trophy collection.
 
“When I won my first youth national championship four years ago, it was not just me saying it – it was a reality because I had performed and succeeded at national level,” he explained.
 
“I’m pretty confident – my reach, my speed, my calmness in the ring. I always believe a calm fighter can weather any storm. Most fighters bring “rough weather” to you, so, if you’re calm enough, there are no worries.”
  
Olympic.com has listed Olaore as one of the boxers to watch out for when the boxing events begin tomorrow.