A boxing trainer has identified those responsible for Chukwuemeka Igboanugo’s death.
WITHIN NIGERIA previously reported that the boxer died while competing for his home state of Imo at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State.
In their 86kg category bout, Igboanugo passed out after receiving multiple punches to the chin from Anambra’s Gaby Amagor.
The fight was said to have been stopped by the referee after Igboanugo slumped in the ring. According to reports, the boxer was rushed to the hospital in an attempt to resuscitate him.
Unfortunately, he passed away in the hospital.
Borno State coach Endurance Aberegidi, on the other hand, blamed the boxer’s death on the medical personnel at the venue.
He chastised them for their treatment and inaction, which could have saved the athlete’s life.
Aberegidi told The PUNCH that he was in the ring on Monday and saw the fighter pass away.
“It was a pathetic situation. This guy trained for years, and after getting a national opportunity, he then dies in the ring,” he said.
He added:
I was in the ringside when he fell, and the medics rushed in and tried to revive him. He responded, slightly and they took him to the emergency unit, then they asked for the boxer’s coach.
I walked up to them, and they told me that the boy was not responding to treatment.
The coach explained how much time they wasted looking for the Imo coach instead of treating Igboanugo immediately.
Aberegidi added:
They were looking for the coach for over 20 minutes as the boy was not responding to treatment. I don’t know why they wasted so much time treating the boy. They should have focused on treating him. They said the boy didn’t allow anyone to treat him, and after a short while, they came back and said he had given up the ghost.
Meanwhile, Lagos State boxer Israel Makinde had also expressed his bitterness over Igboanugo’s death.
He said:
It’s weird, it’s so painful. But I am not scared, I think you must be aware of your health before the fight and so I am trying to prepare for my semi-final clash in the flyweight tomorrow.