From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) in Delta State has described a deceased boxer, Igboanugo Chucks as a national hero.
Igboanugo who represented Imo State at the festival, died on Monday after he collapsed during the 86kg bout with Prince Gaby Amagor of Delta State.
Addressing journalists, the chairman of the media and publicity sub-committee of the LOC, Charles Aniagwu regretted the death of the boxer, describing as a patriot who was determined to win gold.
Aniagwu said medics battled hard to save him but to no avail.
“At the event center, we have ring side medics who check the boxers for fitness. On the 4th, he was examined and his BP was not normal.
“He was asked to leave and after a short while, he returned and the BP was normal but was also aksed to come back before the bout.
“But he did not come back. At some point in time during the bout, his nose was bleeding and they wanted to stop the game but he was confident of winning the bout.
“So when he fell, he was rushed to the clinic within the centre and as he was being rushed there, the ambulance was being prepared in which he was taken to the Asaba Specialist Hospital (ASH) where be was confirmed dead,” he said.
Aniagwu who is the Commissioner for Information in Delta State, said the consent of his family, Imo contingents and the Boxing Federation of Nigeria is needed to autopsy to be carried out to ascertain the real cause of death.
