Daily Independent Online.
*
Tuesday, August 24, 2004.
Team
Nigeria’s
boxing hope crashes out
Pius Anakali
Snr.
Correspondent,
Lagos
Nigeria suffered
yet another defeat Monday when its surest hope in boxing, kid pugilist Nestor
Bulum lost to Thailand’s Worapoj Petchkoom by 14-points to 29-points in
the Bantamweight 54 KG event.
Bulum who was
tipped by ex Olympian, Jerry Okorodudu as a medal prospect was overpowered by
the fast paced pugilist from the Asian continent.
Boxing has in the
past Olympic been one of
Nigeria’s strongest points in the Olympic with good result to
show. The exploit of David Izonrentie and famed Peter Konyegwachi has always
been the focal point.
With
Nigeria’s domination of boxing at last year’s All Africa where she
picked seven slots for Olympic the thinking was that at least three of the boxers
will get to the medal zone.
However, the early
knock out of team captain, Emmanuel Izonrentie, who promised to surpass his
elder brothers record from the race placed some doubt in the ability of the
boxers to win a medal. But Bulum’s
showing in his first fight when he out -punched his opponent re-awakened
Nigerians’ hope. Yesterday however, Bulum fell to the firing power of
Thailand’s Petchkoom who beat his Nigerian opponent by a whooping 29 to
14-points.
