From Yakubu Mustapha Minna
A 22 year old Bahago Zayanu from Niger State has won as champion in the light weight finals of the 2024 Traditional Boxing championship of Dambe Warriors that took place in Niger state.
The championship was organized by Dambe Worriors in partnership with the Niger state ministry of culture and tourism and sponsored by the Hero Hunters motorcycle company held at the U.K Bello Arts and Theatre, Minna.
The 22 year old Zayanu scored 56 points to defeat Dogo Sisko with 55 points in the light weight category while in the medium weight category, a fighter simply identified as Auta scored 86 point, defeating his opponent, Aljani who pulled 85 points to lift the price.
Also in the 70-75kg weight category, Yar-Mage from Katsina State garnered 90 points, defeating Manu Garkuwa Chindo who scored 81 points in the first, second and third rounds of the fight.
Zazu from Zamfara State won with 87 points against his opponent, Bahago Ondo from Borno State who scored 81 points among others.
The Co-founder of the competition, Anthony Okeleke said, like the Champions Football League, the Traditional Boxing championship called Dambe Warriors Showcased Nigeria’s cultural heritage in traditional boxing at the global stage.
Okeleker said the competition which was held for the first time in Minna, the Niger State Capital had six fighters at the final stage of the three categories of the competition, noted that traditional boxing is being remodeled to attract foreign interest.
According to him, the participants in the Light weight, Medium weight and Heavyweights categories of the competition were drawn from various northern states to compete for the prizes.