Olympics: Nigeria’s boxing hopes over as Olaore crashes

Nigeria’s last hope in the boxing event of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Adam Olaore, crashed out of the Games on Sunday after losing to Kazakhstan’s Aibek Oralbay in the round of 16 of the men’s 92 kg heavyweight category, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Olaore, who became the sole bearer of the nation’s hopes following the disqualification of Cynthia Ogunsemilore due to a failed dope test, was outclassed by the Kazakh in a one-sided bout at the North Paris Arena.

The Nigerian pugilist lost all three rounds, with all five judges ruling in favour of Oralbay. The final scorecard read 30-26 in favour of the Kazakh, who dominated the fight from start to finish.

Oralbay, the 2022 Asian champion, stamped his authority early in the bout, knocking down Olaore towards the end of the first round, which he won 10-5. The Kazakh maintained his dominance in the second and third rounds, landing heavier and cleaner shots to secure a unanimous 5-0 decision.

The defeat ended Nigeria’s boxing campaign at the Paris Olympics, with the country’s medal drought in the sport extending beyond the Atlanta ‘96 Games, where Duncan Dokiwari won bronze in the super heavyweight division.

Olaore’s exit is particularly disappointing, given the high expectations placed on the 22-year-old. In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Sports Extra in March, the Lagos-born boxer had expressed his ambition to “return from the Olympics with gold on my neck.”

The boxer, who began his career at 14 in the United Kingdom, had been seen as a potential medalist, especially after the withdrawal of Dolapo Omole due to injury and Ogunsemilore’s doping suspension.

Olaore’s defeat also continues Africa’s shaky start in the Olympic boxing tournament. The continent now has only 20 boxers remaining following the elimination of Egypt’s bantamweight Yomna Ayyad and Ogunsemilore’s doping-related removal.

The Nigeria Boxing Federation now has to go back to the drawing board in a bid to end the country’s 28-year medal drought in Olympic boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.