Agbaje, Olaore, Oshoba headline boxing award nominees list

• Elizabeth Oshoba has been nominated for Female Fighter of The Year after winning the WBC Silver featherweight title last year
• Taiwo Agbaje is in contention for Male Fighter of The Year and Comeback of The Year after his knockout win over Rilwan Lawal
• The awards also recognise trainers, rising prospects, and top boxing events of the year.

The countdown has begun for the 2024 Fight Gist Media Boxing Awards, with an exciting lineup of nominees revealed ahead of the prestigious event scheduled for March 2025. 

Nigerian boxing stars, including Elizabeth Oshoba, Adams Olaore, and Taiwo ‘Esepo’ Agbaje, lead the nominations in various categories, recognising their outstanding performances in the past year.

Oshoba, who made history by winning the WBC Silver featherweight title in 2024, is among the frontrunners for the Female Fighter of The Year award. 

She faces stiff competition from Blessing Bukola Dada, Celina Agwu, Aishat Oriyomi, and Mary Aina Abbey. Joy Nene, who claimed gold at the 2024 African Games, also secured a nomination in the same category.

Adams Olaore, another standout performer, was nominated for Outstanding Amateur Boxer of The Year after winning gold at the 13th African Games in Accra and securing a spot at the 2024 Olympic Games. He will compete against fellow rising stars Patricia Mbata, Blessing Orakwe, Ifeanyi Onyekwere, and Joy Nene.

The Male Fighter of The Year category boasts some of the biggest names in Nigerian boxing, with Agbaje leading a stacked list that includes Raheem ‘Baddo’ Animasahun, Idowu ‘ID Buster’ Rasheed, Tosin ‘Sojar Boy’ Osaigbovo, Austine ‘Magnificent Dancer’ Nnamdi, and Rasheed ‘Fhally Boy’ Adeyemo.

Agbaje is also a contender for Comeback of The Year after his thrilling seventh-round knockout victory over Rilwan Lawal to capture the vacant IBO All-African Featherweight title. His competitors in this category include Riliwan ‘Baby Face’ Babatunde, Isaac ‘D Star’ Chukwudi, and Sulieman ‘Armour Tanka’ Jafaru.

Meanwhile, the Fight of The Year category promises to be highly competitive, with six thrilling bouts in contention, including Agbaje’s victory over Lawal, Ridwan ‘Scorpion’ Oyekola’s clash with Osaigbovo, and Isaac Chukwudi’s battles against Williams Amosu and Emmanuel Abimbola.

Emerging talent will also be recognised in the Prospect of The Year category, where rising stars like Sulaimon Ahmed, Animasahun, Azeez Lateef, Basit Adebayo, Ahmed Lawal, and Joy Nene will battle for honours.

Beyond the fighters, the awards will also celebrate the unsung heroes of boxing. Coaches like Coach AJ, Coach Always, Coach Paramount, Coach Shehu, and Coach Sunny Bruise have been nominated for Trainer of The Year in recognition of their impact in shaping Nigeria’s boxing scene.

Additionally, the Event of The Year category will recognise standout boxing events such as GOTV Boxing Night, King of The Ring, Chaos in Lagos, Battle of The Ages, and Chaos in The Ring.

With the inclusion of Social Media Influencer Awards for both male and female categories, the Fight Gist Media Boxing Awards will honour not just in-ring excellence but also contributions to the sport’s promotion.

As anticipation builds ahead of the March 2025 ceremony, fans and boxing enthusiasts eagerly await to see who will walk away with top honours in what promises to be a celebration of Nigerian boxing talent.

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With the anticipated strong performance of the pay-per-view broadcast, both fighters are expected to walk away with earnings well into seven figures.