The Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) has announced the adoption of the newly approved World Boxing weight categories for the forthcoming 22nd National Sports Festival scheduled to be held in Abeokuta, Ogun State. This decision comes after several state coaches expressed confusion over which weight categories would be used for the Sports Festival.
According to NBF Secretary General Olalekan Faseesin, “This is to inform you that the Nigeria Boxing Federation, as an affiliate of the IOC-recognized World Boxing, is duly bound by the statutes and regulations of the International Federation.” The new weight categories, implemented from January 1, 2025, feature¹:
- Men’s Division: 10 categories ranging from Flyweight (47-50kg) to Super Heavyweight (90kg+)
- Women’s Division: 10 categories from Light Flyweight (45-48kg) to Heavyweight (80kg+)
Niger State Boxing Head Coach Ismail Raji had sought clarification on the weight categories, stating, “Please, kindly make the clarification on these two weight categories tables sir. Which one are we using at the forthcoming NSFs at Ogun State? The majority of state coaches are confused because the registration portal will soon open.”
The NBF has instructed all participating states to obtain their new Blue Cards from the NBF Secretariat in preparation for the Sports Festival. “Kindly note that this advisory supersedes all previous communications on this matter. Furthermore, all participating states are requested to obtain their new Blue Card from the NBF Secretariat in preparation for the 22nd National Sports Festival,” the statement added.
Competition Format
- Each state can enter one male boxer in each of the 10 men’s weight categories and one female boxer in each of the 10 women’s categories
- Maximum of 10 male entries and 10 female entries per state
The clarification aims to ensure all states prepare their boxers according to the standardized weight categories recognized by the global governing body, World Boxing. With the registration portal expected to open soon, the NBF has encouraged stakeholders to reach out with any questions regarding the implementation of the new weight categories.²