Hon. Omonlei Imadu, Vice President, African Boxing (AfB)
Boxing must be built on fairness, transparency, and the principles of sporting excellence. Stakeholders have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the sport, create opportunities for young talents, and ensure that personal interests never take precedence over the future of African boxing.
Imagine a young boxer who spends four to eight weeks in camp, training tirelessly, enduring exhausting morning runs, sparring through difficult conditions, and sometimes sacrificing his education to pursue his sporting dreams. He enters the ring believing that discipline, courage, and superior performance will determine his success. Yet, if his reward is determined by backroom negotiations rather than the official scorecard, and his victory depends on private arrangements instead of what happens in the ring, the damage goes far beyond the result of a single contest.
It destroys the very foundation of competitive sport: merit.
When boxers begin to believe that connections matter more than performance, their motivation changes. Instead of dedicating themselves to mastering their craft, they may feel compelled to cultivate relationships with influential individuals. Coaches who should be concentrating on technique, strategy, and discipline may find themselves navigating administrative politics. Parents who once encouraged their children to pursue boxing may begin questioning whether the sport offers a fair opportunity for success.
This is how confidence in a sporting institution gradually erodes. When athletes lose faith in the fairness of competition, the consequences extend beyond individual fighters to coaches, families, promoters, and the wider sporting community.
African boxing cannot afford such a future. The sport should reward preparation, courage, skill, and discipline—not influence, personal connections, or undisclosed arrangements.
Restoring confidence requires decisive institutional reforms. Competition outcomes must be determined exclusively by performances in the ring and the established rules of the sport. Any arrangement that compromises the independence of a contest or predetermines its outcome undermines the credibility of the entire competition.
Transparency in judging is equally essential. Olympic-style boxing scorecards should be published on the African Boxing (AfB) website within 24 hours of each contest, subject to applicable competition rules and procedures. Making scorecards accessible would strengthen accountability, enable informed scrutiny, and help stakeholders understand how decisions are reached. Officials must be confident that their decisions can withstand legitimate examination.
Equally important is the establishment of independent and impartial panels for protests, disciplinary matters, and disputes arising from bouts. No individual should participate in deciding a case where personal, financial, national, or professional interests could compromise their impartiality. Clear conflict-of-interest rules are essential to ensuring that every complaint receives a fair and credible hearing.
These measures are not intended to undermine boxing authorities or create unnecessary divisions among stakeholders. Rather, they are necessary steps towards strengthening institutions, protecting athletes, and rebuilding public confidence in the sport.
African boxing has enormous potential to inspire young people, create professional opportunities, promote international cooperation, and showcase the continent's sporting talent. However, this potential can only be fully realised when athletes trust the systems governing their competitions.
A young boxer deserves to enter the ring knowing that his preparation matters, his performance will be assessed fairly, and his rights will be protected. He should not have to wonder whether his future depends on whom he knows or what was discussed outside the ring.
The measure of a credible boxing institution is not merely the number of tournaments it organises or the titles it awards. It is the confidence athletes place in its decisions and the fairness with which it treats everyone under its authority.
African boxing must therefore embrace a culture in which integrity is non-negotiable, accountability is institutionalised, and merit remains the ultimate standard of sporting achievement.
Our responsibility is to build a system where hard work earns recognition, performance determines outcomes, and every boxer has a fair opportunity to succeed. That is the future African boxing must pursue.
Hon. Omonlei Imadu
Vice President
African Boxing (AfB)
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