By our reporter 4.9.2025
Nigeria and other countries are set to contest for boxing honours at the inaugural World Boxing Championships, held under the auspices of the World Boxing federation. The event begun Thursday in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Over 500 men and women boxers from 66 national federations are expected to vie across ten weight categories in the championships the first been organised by the federation; it will run till September 14. It is the first time men and women are competing in the same boxing event.
“We happy to be here and ready to compete like every other serious boxing nation,” said an official of the Nigerian Boxing Federation.
According to him it is the biggest boxing event after the Olympics; 17 medalists from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, alongside more than 30 athletes who competed in the French capital are expected to grace the event.
There would strict gender testing following the controversy from the Paris 2024 Olympics surrounding Lin Yu-tin of Chinese Taipei and Algeria’s Imane Khelif who has filed an appeal against the World Boxing Federation mandatory gender test policy. Both athletes are not in Liverpool for the contest.
“World Boxing’s policy on gender eligibility, which includes mandatory sex testing, is designed to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field,” the sport governing body.
“It is very disappointing for the boxers that some National Federations have not been able to complete this process in time which means that some athletes have not made it through the sports entry process for the World Boxing Championships.”