Anthony Joshua was never available for Nigeria

UNBEATEN Argentina-based Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Onoriode Ehwarieme has said reigning world champion Anthony Joshua couldn’t have been given an automatic ticket to represent Nigeria at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Ehwarieme, who represented Nigeria in the super heavyweight category at Beijing Olympics made the declaration against the backdrop of the remarks by the 1984 Olympian Jerry Okorodudu that Joshua was shunned by Nigeria eight years ago.

“There is a standard all over the world and it is the practice in Nigeria too. Before Joshua would have got an Olympic ticket, he needed to qualify first but he was not in the camp with us. So, how was he (Joshua} frustrated as coach Okorodudu claimed? He didn’t come for the trials, I am very sure of that,” Ehwarieme told Tribunesport.

“I was in the national camp between 2007 and 2010. I won the trials before I took part in the African Olympic qualifying series where I eventually made it to the Beijing Olympic alongside Olanrewaju Durodola {heavyweight}. So, there was no way Joshua would have been given an automatic Olympic ticket, he must fight for it.

“In fact, it was Abiodun Afinni, who won the trials held in Ibadan before the camping began. We were four in my category and I needed to face the best man then in the camp before I could get the nod to qualify for the Olympics,” Ehwarieme who lost in the Super heavyweight (+91 kg) to Jaroslavas Jaksto of Lithuania at the 2008 Olympic Games said.

The Delta-state-born boxer, who also represented Nigeria at the First World Cup championship ‘Russia 2008’ as well as the 2009 AIBA World Amateur Boxing Championships in Italy, however, said his experience during his amateur boxing days gave his professional career a boost.

“It’s not really easy, I mean amateur boxing, but I give thanks to God for giving me the strength to continue my career in professional boxing. It was a good build up for me and it is been quite an eventful journey for me. I had wanted to become the heavyweight champion in Nigeria, but things did not work out as planned and I don’t want to be discouraged. After I stopped Oseni Lekan in Rd 1 in 2013, I also defeated Adewale Masebinu in 2015 [in Lagos] before I left for Argentina to give my career a new lease of life.