Nigeria’s sole representative in the boxing event at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Efe Ajagba, is set to head to the United States of America to begin his professional boxing career.
Ajagba, 22, who won bronze for Nigeria at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland and gold at the All Africa Games in Congo in 2015, stated that he was initially billed to commence his professional career in Canada but had to turn down the offer.
“I am about to turn professional. I have five offers abroad and I want to think properly before signing,” Ajagba, who just missed out on the medals in the super heavyweight category at Rio 2016, told Completespprtsnigeria.com on Tuesday.
“The offers are from the United States of America. Initially I went to Canada but I was disappointed so I had to switch to USA.”
Reflecting on his experience at last year’s Olympics, Ajagba lamented his poor preparation which he believed prevented him from going far.
“My biggest consolation from the Rio 2016 Olympics was that my knock-out (against Nigel Paul from Trinidad and Tobago in round 16) was adjudged the best in the boxing event, aside from things not going as well as I planned.
“I didn’t have any sparring partner, my preparation back home before going for the Olympics was nothing to write about and this cost me the opportunity of winning a medal for Nigeria.”