By Joe Apu
Enugu, Nigeria – The city of Enugu is gearing up for the South East Boxing Tournament, a one-day boxing event organized in memory of the late Chief Dr. Osondu Ogbu, the Onowu of Ezimo Kingdom and former Chairman of the Enugu State and South East Boxing Associations.
The tournament, scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, 2025, is a collaborative effort between the Oldskool Generation Lounge and Event Centre and the Enugu State Boxing Association (ENSBA). It will feature boxers from Enugu and surrounding areas competing across various categories.
Speaking to newsmen ahead of the event, the chief organizer and widow of the late Chief Ogbu, Mrs. Obiamaka Cordelia Ogbu, described her husband as a devoted boxing enthusiast whose legacy deserves to be celebrated.
“My husband was deeply passionate about boxing. The only way to honour his memory and make him proud, wherever he is, is to continue what he loved most,” she said. “Boxing brought him so much joy, and I believe he would be extremely happy to see this initiative.”
Mrs. Ogbu, who now serves as Chairperson of the Enugu State Boxing Association, a position her husband held until his passing last year, revealed plans to make the tournament an annual event.
“God willing, I want this to be a yearly competition. I know that’s what he would have wanted,” she added.
Describing her late husband, Mrs. Ogbu said, “He was a loving man, a devoted husband and father, a philanthropist, and someone who was always committed to the causes he believed in. His kindness and dedication touched many lives, and I am confident his soul is at peace.”
She called on boxing lovers across Enugu State and the entire South East region to come out and support the event, which aims not only to honour a legend but also to promote the growth of boxing in the region.
The tournament will take place at the Oldskool Generation Lounge and Event Centre on Nza Road, Enugu, starting at 2 p.m. Dignitaries expected to attend include the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Enugu State, Barr. Lloyd Ike Ekwerenmadu.