A former Nigerian boxer and national referee, Henry McDonald, has expressed optimism about the future of boxing in Bayelsa State, despite concerns that the sport is often overshadowed by football and wrestling.
McDonald, a native of Trofani Town in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, spoke during an interview where he reflected on his boxing journey, the current state of the sport in the state, and preparations for the forthcoming Niger Delta Sports Festival.
From the Ring to Coaching.
Introducing himself, McDonald said he began his boxing career in the early 1980s.
“My name is Henry McDonald. I am from Bayelsa State, a local boy from Trofani Town. I was an ex-boxer and trained at the Lion Boxing Club in Rivers State as far back as 1983,” he said.
He credited his early development to his head coach, Nkushayama, under whom he trained before moving to Lagos to further his boxing career.
“From there, I travelled to Lagos and boxed for some time before returning to Bayelsa State,” he added.
McDonald currently serves as one of the acting coaches at the Bayelsa State Sports Council and is also a national boxing referee, representing the state at the national level.
State of Boxing in Bayelsa
Assessing the present condition of boxing in Bayelsa State, McDonald commended the leadership of the state’s boxing setup.
“The head coach, Tony Agueda, is doing well, and the Commissioner for Sports is also trying. We just pray they continue to support the boxing team and take good care of the athletes and coaches so we can produce more boxers to represent the state,” he said.
Responding to criticisms that the Bayelsa State Government focuses more on football and wrestling to the neglect of boxing, McDonald acknowledged the concern but maintained that boxing still has strong roots in the state.
“Bayelsa has produced good boxers in the past. People like Nsonri T., Takeo Oru, and others are professionals today. They still come around to support the sport, sometimes donating gloves and helping with competitions,” he noted.
He recalled that Nsonri T. Once hosted a boxing competition in Bayelsa, which helped promote the sport locally.
A Proud Boxing Heritage
McDonald also referenced Bayelsa-born boxers who made their mark while competing from neighbouring states.
“When we were in Rivers State, we had the likes of Blitz, G-Loss Kode, Good Boxer, Smoking Joe, and Miesse Yabu. These are Bayelsans, and they were very good boxers,” he said.
He further highlighted the Bayelsa State Sports Festival held about two years ago, where boxing featured prominently and recorded notable success.
“Boxing did very well during the festival. It was fun, and it showed that the sport still has potential if properly supported,” he added.
Niger Delta Sports Festival Preparations
On preparations for the upcoming Niger Delta Sports Festival, McDonald disclosed that the state has concluded its trials and selected its representatives.
“We are preparing for the Niger Delta Sports Festival. We just finished our trials. The state will be represented by four boxers — two males and two females,” he explained.
He expressed confidence in the team’s readiness ahead of the competition.
“We are fully prepared. The arrival date is the 19th of this month, and we believe our boxers will perform well,” he said.
McDonald concluded by calling for sustained government support to ensure boxing continues to thrive in Bayelsa State.
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