By Femi Atolagbe
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Tragedy struck after a boxer (name withheld) representing Imo State in the ongoing National Sports Festival in Asaba died after losing his fight in a technical knockout.
The said boxer received a punch in his chin and the referee had to stop the fight when he failed to recover. He immediately left the ring for medical treatment and then rushed to the hospital where he gave up the ghost.
As of the time of filing the story, leader of Imo state contingent was playing down the news as they not inform the family of the deceased.
An eyewitness, Ilechukwu Enyeama, said, “Yes, it was true that Imo State boxer died yesterday at the hospital where he was taken to revive his life.
“Though I don’t know his name I watched the bout and saw when he was rushed to the hospital. I heard later that he died in hospital.”
All efforts to reach the Boxing Coach of Team Imo proved abortive. However, when contacted, the Vice President of, the Nigeria Boxing Federation, Azania Omo-Agege Siena, said, he can’t say anything about it as the federation has not been briefed about the incident.
“I can’t say anything about it because no one has contacted the federation about it,” He said.
In another incident, Team Zamfara’s taekwondo athlete, Daniel Otunoye was ruled out of the ongoing 21st edition of the National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State after he collapsed before his fight.
