Nigeria’s boxer Adeyinka Benson boxed his way into the quarterfinal round of the men’s middleweight after flooring Ghana’s Abubakari Quartey in the last 16 at the ongoing 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Benson, who is Nigeria’s third boxer to compete in the competition following the exit of Bolanle Shogbamu in the women’s middleweight while Azeez Osoba knocked down his Bahamas opponent to advance to the next stage in the men’s light middleweight.
Benson who fought in the blue corner won on points with judges two, four and five awarding the tie to the Nigerian. Benson is expected to face Scotland’s Sam Hickey in the quarterfinal.
Today, Innocent Ehwarieme will take on England’s Aaron Bowen in the round of 16 in men’s light heavyweight.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria will make a return to the judo event today at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham after missing the past three editions.
One of the four judokas registered for the competition, Patrick Edwin will face Northern Ireland’s Nathon Burns in round 16 of the men’s -66kg with the hope to claim the first medal for Nigeria in the event.
Also tomorrow, Fatai Murtala will face a Herculean task when he takes on England’s Lachlan Morehead in the last 16 of the men’s -81kg. Joy Asonye will face Australia’s Aoife Coughlan in the women’s -70kg while Cecilia James will battle Zambia’s Taonga Soko in the women’s -63kg.