Co-Founder of the Dambe Warriors League in Niger state, Mr. Chidi Anyina has expressed confidence that the traditional boxing game popularly known as “Dembe” if given the necessary attention will impact the world positively.
He made the remarks at the Season 3 Dambe sport Championship competition held at U.K Bello Arts Theatre in Minna.
Mr Anyina said unlike the Champions league Football that is played in Europe, the traditional boxing championship can equally showcase Nigerian culture at such global level, while expressing his utmost delight over the general acceptance of the sport in Niger state.
“I am very impressed with what I have seen. I never knew too that they have so developed to this level and I am so happy and congratulate the organisers for this wonderful event that they have put up. These are some of the ways that we can promote our culture”
Explaining the module of their program, Mr Anyina said each fighter will be scheduled for five bouts of fights to be able to qualify for the finals.
There are six fight fixtures in three weight categories: Light, Middle and the Heavy weight categories, and fights will be determined every three weeks for a Season between two fighters and the last two to be relegated.
According to him, the participants were drawn from different northern states to compete for the prize.
Anyina said the competition is a league where the fighters will tour five states and the grand finale will take place in Abuja with winners going home with more than N4million each.
According to him, each month, depending on their category, a fighter can make as much as N800,000 a month, with an appearance fees inclusive as part of the package.
The acting Director, Niger State Council of Arts and Culture, Malam Ibrahim representing the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, said the event is one of their mandates to promote art and culture and that is why they accepted to host the competition in collaboration with Dambe Warriors.
Manu Garkuwan Chindo scored 59 points to defeat Bahagon Nasarawa with 58 points in Lightweight category while in Middleweight category, Zaazu scored 87 points defeating his opponent, Ramadan Garba 85 points while in the Heavyweight category, Dogo Maipatasara knocked out Dogo Shamsu to win the prize.
