Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) Explains Why IOC's Reduction in Boxing Weight Categories is Discriminatory Against Africa

Azania Omo-Agege, the interim president of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), has voiced strong criticism against the International Olympic Committee (IOC), accusing it of discriminating against African nations through recent changes to Olympic boxing weight categories. According to Omo-Agege, the IOC's decision to reduce the number of weight categories has disproportionately affected the medal prospects of African nations at the Olympics.

In an interview with The PUNCH, NBF speaking through the interim President, Omo-Agege highlighted that the removal of the weight categories has detrimental effect on African countries because they traditionally excelled in those classes. He pointed out that before the changes, African nations were consistently winning three to five boxing medals at the Olympics. However, since the introduction of the new weight categories, the continent has collectively managed only one to two medals per Olympics.

“This has not been very good for Africa as most of the weight categories they took out are where Africa excelled. If you check our statistics for the past Olympics, Africa was coming with about three to five medals. Since the new change, Africa has only been getting one to two medals as a whole continent at the Olympics. That is discrimination,” Omo-Agege stated.


Omo-Agege's comments follow Africa's performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the continent secured only one boxing medal. Algeria’s Imane Khelif won gold in the -66kg category amidst controversy involving transphobic harassment and gender issues. The reduction in weight categories has forced athletes to make drastic weight adjustments to compete, which Omo-Agege deems unfair and discriminatory.

“Now when they reduce the categories, you are forcing the athletes to rapidly increase or reduce weights so as to compete, and that is not fair, it is discriminatory,” he added. “I am agitating for more slots where Africans have their strengths or go back to the original weight categories.”

Nigeria's own struggles in Olympic boxing were evident in Paris, where their last hope, Adam Olaore, was eliminated in the round of 16 in the men's 92kg heavyweight category by Kazakhstan’s Aibek Oralbay. The Nigerian campaign was further hampered by Cynthia Ogunsemilore’s doping-related disqualification and Dolapo Omole’s injury withdrawal, extending Nigeria’s Olympic boxing medal drought since Duncan Dokiwari’s bronze at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.
Future Plans for Nigerian Boxing

Looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028, Omo-Agege has ambitious plans to revive the Nigerian Boxing League as part of a long-term development strategy. He emphasized the need for constant competition to nurture boxing talent and change the perception that most Nigerian boxers come from the streets.

“There is a perception that most of our boxers are from the streets. We are working to change that, and we need constant competition to do that,” he said.

The federation chief believes that the introduction of prize money from the International Boxing Association (IBA) will serve as a significant motivator for boxers. “Since there is prize money now from the International Boxing Association, the boxers will be encouraged to fight where they can actually earn a living,” he added.

Omo-Agege stressed that regular participation in competitions would better prepare Nigerian boxers for international games and ultimately the Olympics. “When we attend more competitions, it will put us in a good position to go out for international games where we can prepare ourselves for the Olympics,” he concluded.

The concerns raised by Omo-Agege reflect a broader issue within international sports, where changes in regulations and categories can have significant impacts on different regions' ability to compete effectively. The IOC’s adjustments to boxing weight categories have sparked a debate about fairness and representation, particularly for continents like Africa that have historically excelled in specific weight classes.

Omo-Agege’s call for a return to the original weight categories or the introduction of more slots where African athletes have traditionally excelled is aimed at ensuring a level playing field for all competitors. His stance underscores the importance of considering regional strengths and historical performance when making decisions that affect the global sports community.

The debate over the IOC’s changes to boxing weight categories is likely to continue, with stakeholders from various regions advocating for adjustments that would allow their athletes to compete on more equitable terms. As the countdown to Los Angeles 2028 begins, the dialogue between national federations, athletes, and international governing bodies will be crucial in shaping the future of Olympic boxing.