Boxing/MMA Hall of Fame South-South amateur championships thrill fans

Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) stakeholders and enthusiasts in the South-South have commended the Boxing and MMA Hall of Fame for bringing the best of the sports to fight-starved people of the region.

The organisation hosted the National Amateur Boxing and MMA Championships at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, Edo State. The event featured more than 50 skilled fighters from the region, comprising Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, and Delta states.

Under the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA) rules, the MMA tournament delivered pulse-pounding action through 10 intense bouts, featuring a range of weight categories. The female 65kg category was one of the most talked-about matchups, as Edo’s Obala Joy faced off with Delta State’s Success Johnson in a clash that had the crowd on their feet.   

Rivers State’s Precious Ejiogu went head-to-head with Cross River’s Precious Ajiboye in the 55kg female category, while Delta State’s Victor Ikoko battled Rivers’ Okorie Selix in the male 70kg division.

The crowd erupted as Gabriel Karo of Edo State clinched the gold in the male 60kg category, overcoming fierce competition fromDamilare Ayilaran of Cross River State, while Felix Okorie from Rivers State clinched the top spot in the 70kg men’s category.  

The competition was fierce, with fighters from across the zone showing that they were true warriors ready to step onto the national stage, as the gladiators fought in seven bouts of different categories.
 
One of the most intense clashes of the tournament was in the women’s 67kg category, where Akwa Ibom’s Chisom Arkfort squared off against Cross River State’s Nicholas Osazee.  

In addition to the breathtaking action in the ring and cage, the event’s first day featured an MMA seminar under GAMMA rules, aimed at training and certifying national judges and referees.

Elated by the turnout of fight fans at the event, a Boxing/MMA Hall Of Fame official, Rayan Fayan, said: “This tournament is a vital stepping stone for the south-south states/
 
“The energy and skill we’ve seen in this tournament have exceeded our expectations. These fighters are hungry, and they’ve proven that the south-south region is a hotbed of emerging talent in both MMA and boxing.”