AFRICA’S EMERGING STARS: Nigeria’s Mayowa Ayomide aka Azrael is one of the country’s most promising young boxers unearthed by the popular Yucateco Boxing League.
The 17-year-old minimumweight Azrael is also among Africa’s Emerging Stars waiting on the wings to join Nigeria’s national team. She has so far won 18 fights and lost once in 2023 during the finals of Youth Games in Delta_ _State but she’s unbeaten in the Yucateco League. Azrael was interviewed by boxersworld.co.ke
Question: How have you benefitted from Yucateco League?
Answer: The league took my boxing career to a higher level and it has boosted my reflexes and overall boxing standard as well as
Q: How has Yucateco League changed your life?
A: Yucateco has really changed my life, Yucateco gave me independence like I earn monthly for myself, my boxing career has changed from good to better. I’m earning my own money and not reliant on my parents.
Q:Tell me more on the league’s contribution to the development of boxing in Nigeria.
A: The boxing league is an event that builds boxers for months, it is not a two or three weeks boxing event. It ensures every participating boxer has a match every two weeks and that helps to improve a boxer’s ability. Additionally, it gives opportunities to many talented boxers in the shrubs to come out and show the world what they can do. They don’t have to wait every two years for a national championship or festival to come up before the world can recognise them. The Yucateco league boxers are constantly in action with different opponents to gauge their strength. So the league is a great development for boxing in Nigeria.
Q: Just imagine if it were not for Yucateco where would you be now?
A: If it were not for Yucateco boxing league I would still be in the lower category of boxers but through the league I’ve known my abilities. I am now ready to challenge any boxer in Nigeria because the league has also given me more confidence.
Q: Which year did you first get involved with boxing, and who influenced you?
A: I got involved in boxing in the year 2009, my dad was the one who got me into the sport. I wouldn’t say I was influenced because I was very young then and I don’t even know what I was doing by then.
Q: Is there any value in representing Nigeria’s national team?
A: Yes there’s a great value in representing the Nigeria national boxing team. Imagine out of millions of people in the country you get to be the one person who has the chance to represent them while carrying the national flag, as the citizens look up to you to conquer the world. It’s a great feeling. The whole world would respect me and our family. Other countries will also recognise Nigeria. I have a burning desire to represent my country, that is a dream come true for me.
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