Dead boxer Igboanugo is a national hero, 21st NSF’s LOC says

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the 21st National Sports Festival (NSF) says the late Chukwuemeka Igboanugo, the Imo boxer who died after about last Monday in Asaba.

Charles Aniagwu, Chairman of the committee’s Media and Publicity Sub-committee, told journalists the late boxer should be regarded as a national hero.

Newsmen reports that Aniagwu’s comments were coming more than two days after Igboanugo’s death.

Officials at the Festival have several times since Monday refused to confirm or deny Igboanugo’s death, citing one reason or the other.

But Aniagwu’s comments, on behalf of the LOC, has now served as a confirmation of a death some anonymous sources believe should it have been.

“We are sorry to announce the unfortunate passing of Chukwuemeka Igboanugo, a 25-year-old boxer from Team Imo who was fighting in the 81 kg category,” he said.

The LOC spokesman, who is also the Delta Commissioner for Information, however went beyond announcing the death.

“The whole incident leading to the passing is quite unfortunate, because this is a young man who came here to win medals.

“A day before the incident, he came for medical examination and the medics found out that his BP was not normal.

“He was asked to come back for another examination but he did not come before he went for the fight.

“In the course of the fight, he collapsed with blood oozing from his nose. He was attended to by ringside medics, who recommend he be taken to the hospital.

“The boxer was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) here in Asaba. But unfortunately, he was confirmed dead,” Aniagwu said.

He disclosed that the medics did their best to save the boxer at the ring side, with prompt first aid treatment before he was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.

The LOC spokesman added that the late boxer was driven by patriotism and passion for his sport before death came calling.

“He came here to give his best, with his desire is to win medal as a boxer driven by passion for his sport. He is a national hero.

“At this point in time, we want to commiserate with the Imo contingent and the Boxing Federation of Nigeria over this unfortunate loss.

“We may not say much now, because we will have to await the medical report on the death of the boxer.

“We will need the consent of his family and the Imo state government before we can undertake an autopsy,” Aniagwu said.

He also commended sports writers at the festival for what he described “their commitment developmental journalism”.

According to him, the media coverage of the event have underlined the fact that Delta has been able to improve the business of sports in Nigeria.