🇹🇭 2nd World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Thailand from May 24 to June 2, 2024
AFRICA’S NEW KID ON THE BLOCK READY FOR BIG CHALLENGE
▫️ Nigeria’s Blessing Oraekwe composed ahead of her tough fight against Armenian boxer
Blessing Oraekwe (pictured) sent shockwaves when she scored an upset victory over seasoned Mozambican international Alcinda Dos Santos to win a gold medal in the African Games finals in Accra, Ghana.
Yet that was her first appearance for the national team having switched from football to boxing in 2018.
The 25-year-old southpaw fought gallantlylike she’s been in boxing for a long time, containing the two-time Africa champion and a silver medallist at the 2022 world championships in Istanbul.
“I’m so proud of myself, my first time in the national team I won a gold medal was huge achievement,” Oraekwe told me in an interview from her hotel in Bangkok .
“I used my skills and techniques I’ve been taught by my fiance (Abu Benjamin) who’s also a boxer. I felt so great defeating a big name in boxing, to me Alcinda wasn’t a tough boxer.”
Oraekwe steps into the squared circle
today in her second appearance for the national team.
She’s one of Africa’s five female welterweights in action as the final Paris Olympic Games boxing qualifiers enter the sixth day in Bangkok.
Does she have butterflies in her stomach ahead of her bout against Armenia’s Ani Hovsepyan?
“Not all, no butterflies in my stomach because I’m fully prepared for this qualifying tournament,” says Oraekwe who switched from football to boxing in 2018.
“It was my fiance Abu Benjamin who persuaded me to get into boxing because he’s also a boxer, he’s the one who has taught me how to box.”
She learnt the fundamentals of the sport at Brightest Boxing Club in Lagos under the watchful eye of her lover Abu Benjamin.
“I used to be a footballer, and played number seven but my fiance told me I should try boxing, I’m now hooked to it especially after winning a gold medal in the African Games in Accra.It was a memorable day for me.”
Oraekwe is however not letting her instant rise to fame get into her head.
“I’m taking it easy, my focus now is in the qualifiers. I really want to be in Paris,” says Oraekwe who is from Anambra State, Nnewi South, in Nigeria.
The other African female welterweights in action today are Cape Verde’s Africa champion Ivanusa Moreira, DR Congo’s Brigitte Mbabi, Kenya’s Friza Anyango and Sedja Sanogo from Cote d’Ivoire.
Moreira will battle it out with Mexico’s Gricelda Duran. I spoke to Moreira and first asked her what she knows about her Mexican opponent.
“I am very focused on this fight, the Mexican fighter is completely unknown to me, I’ve never seen her fight and know nothing about her but I am well prepared for her,” Moreira told me in an interview.
“I’ll do my best to get this golden card.As
for my presence in Bangkok, I thank the Cape Verdean National Olympic Committee for funding my trip and taking care of all the expenses in Bangkok. I was only unable to go to training camp because they could not support me and my coach.”
Mbabi is lined up against Anastasiia Chernokolenko of Ukraine, Friza meets Emillie Sonvico from France and Sanogo meets Nilufar Boboyorova from Tajikistan.
✍🏼 AFBC Communications