Mayweather in Nigeria challenge
Floyd Mayweather was undefeated in the ring in his boxing career, and now the American is keen to take on a different challenge in Africa’s most populous country.
The 45-year-old, now a boxing promoter after a successful 21-year professional career, is planning to establish a boxing academy in Nigeria to train young fighters.
“The ultimate plan is to find the next Mayweather,” said the American, a former five-weight world champion from super-featherweight to light-middleweight, earlier this week.
“We just want to help. It’s all about giving back, helping the youth and the young generation coming up.
“I want to build a boxing camp for the kids. Different American trainers will come over and work with them.’’
With 27 knock-outs from his 50 career victories, Mayweather was masterful at winning rounds—and therefore winning fights—but unlocking Nigeria’s potential in the sport could also need a calculated and long-term approach.
Dick Tiger made history when he won the world middleweight title in New York in 1962—and successfully defended his crown on home soil a year later.
In the years since, Nigeria has won six boxing medals at the Olympic games, taking three silvers and three bronzes.—BBC
