Boxers during one of the sparring sessions at a GOtv Boxing event in Lagos

Martin Mabutho, the General Manager, Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, on Friday in Lagos said the company was committed to the success story of boxing in Nigeria.

Mabutho made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in reaction to the progress achieved so far in the aftermath of three years sponsorship of the Gotv Boxing Night.

The event, which held its first edition in 2014, has now recorded 11 successful editions with several boxers using the platform to gain stardom and earn national and international bragging rights.

An elated Mabutho told NAN that though there was still much room for improvement, the company was happy to be associated with taking boxing to the next level.

“Boxing is a very good sport and we are proud to be part of the success story so far; however, were are not their yet, we have to keep going.

“We have to make necessary adjustments to push the boxers to be at their best and encourage upcoming ones to love the sport and be prepared to make their name in the industry.

“This is why there is an increase in the price attached to the Mojisola Ogunsanya Best Boxer of the Night Award from N1m to N2.5m,’’ Mabutho said.

In the same vein, Jenkins Alumona, the Managing Director, Flykite Productions, told NAN that the NextGen programme for young boxers was set to take place in November.

He said that no fewer than 100 amature/semi- pro boxers were expected to turn up and use the Gotv platform to prove their worth and launch themselves to international recognition.

Rilwan “Babyface’’ Babatunde, a prodigy of the NextGen programme has currently gone ahead to earn his bragging rights emerging the best boxer of the 11th Gotv Boxing Night after knocking out Waliu “Oganla’’Arogundade.