December 6, 2024

Azania Omo-Agege, the Interim President of the Nigerian Boxing Federation, has described 2024 as a “dismal” year for the sport in the country in an interview with Brila.net.

Speaking openly about internal conflicts, poor focus, and serious issues which have been going on over a year, Omo-Agege believes they have set boxing back significantly.

“To be very honest with you, I don’t like mincing words. It’s been a dismal year for us, which is very shameful. A lot of inciting has been going on in the Federation, so we’re not really focused, you understand,” the president lamented.

The president also pointed to the doping scandal involving Nigerian athletes at the Olympics, a rare and embarrassing setback for country’s boxing community.

“I put it all down to so much of the inciting though. I’m looking at selection of boxers, and that’s what’s really happened, and the doping issue that happened at the Olympics.”

 

”This hardly happens to us, and we have to face it head on.”

 

He continued asking,

 

“Why did this happen? What happened? What caused all this? We have to really look into that, but I’m not happy discussing this with you today because it’s very disappointing.”

While he did not shy away from acknowledging the mistakes made, Omo-Agege remained hopeful for a future where the sport can recover and thrive.

“We hope for the best, and we have to move forward. We can’t start blaming ourselves right now.”

 

“Yes, wrong decisions were taken, but we have to move forward. But to be honest with you, 2024 was not a good year for boxing.”

Shohei Ohtani, the superstar Los Angeles Dodgers player, is demanding that his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, return hundreds of thousands of dollars in baseball cards he alleges were fraudulently purchased with his stolen money.

Court documents filed Tuesday reveal that Mizuhara, who was once a trusted confidant and friend of the Japanese sensation, misappropriated funds from Ohtani’s bank account to make the purchases, totaling about $325,000.

The filing claims Mizuhara gained unauthorized access to Ohtani’s bank account around November 2021, altering security protocols to impersonate the athlete and authorize wire transfers.

By 2024, Mizuhara had used the funds to buy rare baseball cards, including signed collectibles featuring Ohtani himself, through online marketplaces like eBay and Whatnot.

Shohei Ohtani is now requesting that Mizuhara return these items, which were allegedly in his “unauthorized and wrongful possession.”

This legal action comes after Mizuhara, 32, pleaded guilty in June to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani, using the money to cover his escalating gambling debts, medical expenses, and card purchases.

Mizuhara was involved in high-stakes international betting on soccer, NBA, NFL, and college football games—though prosecutors have made it clear he never bet on baseball.

Mizuhara, who had stood by Ohtani’s side during important moments like the 2021 Home Run Derby and his two MVP wins, now faces severe legal consequences.

In addition to the fraud charges, he could face up to 30 years in federal prison and be ordered to pay restitution—nearly $17 million to Ohtani and over $1 million to the IRS.

As a legal permanent resident with a green card, Shohei Ohtani may also face deportation to Japan.

Despite his legal troubles, Mizuhara’s role in Ohtani’s career remains notable, having played a part in many of the player’s historic achievements, including his record-breaking $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers.

However, the once-close relationship has now been shattered by Mizuhara’s criminal actions, leading Ohtani to seek justice and the return of his stolen memorabilia.

Mizuhara is scheduled to be sentenced in January for one count of bank fraud and one count of filing a false tax return.

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that his final season with Mercedes has been one of the most emotionally challenging of his 12-year career with the Silver Arrows, as he prepares to close this chapter and move to Ferrari in 2025.

In a interview ahead of his last race for Mercedes in Abu Dhabi this weekend, the 39-year-old seven-time world champion admitted that he has struggled to manage his emotions throughout a turbulent year.

“It’s been a very emotional year for me and I don’t think I’ve been the best at handling my emotions this year,” Hamilton told reporters on Thursday.

“You’ve seen the best of me and the worst of me, but I’m not going to apologise as I’m human.”

Hamilton’s Rough 2021 Season

Lewis Hamilton’s final group photo with Mercedes

The 2021 season, which ended in dramatic fashion with a controversial defeat to Max Verstappen in the title fight, has cast a long shadow over Hamilton’s career.

Since that heartbreaking loss, Mercedes has failed to maintain its dominant form, slipping behind rivals Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship.

Despite a few highs, including a memorable victory at Silverstone in July, Hamilton has struggled to replicate the performances that once made him one of the sport’s most feared drivers.

“In Qatar last week, I was definitely not fast anymore,” he reflected, after a disappointing performance in sprint qualifying.

Hamilton’s frustration has been palpable throughout the year.

He secured his first podium finish in ten races at the Spanish Grand Prix, but his journey back to the top has been far from easy.

The British driver currently sits seventh in the standings, 24 points behind his teammate George Russell.

The emotional weight of this season has been compounded by the announcement, made at the start of the year, that Hamilton would leave Mercedes after more than a decade with the team.

His departure was confirmed ahead of the season, and Hamilton admitted that the situation has been difficult from the very beginning.

“Ultimately I anticipated it would be difficult but massively underestimated how difficult it would be,” Hamilton confessed.

 

“Realising these are the last moments with the team, it’s hard to describe the feeling – not the greatest of course.”

However, Lewis Hamilton desires to finish his career with Mercedes “the right way,” as he looks forward to his transition to Ferrari.

“It’s a dream scenario for any driver [joining Ferrari], but it’s not an easy step to join a new team, it takes time to build relationships and learn the tools.”

 

“These days will be super emotional.”

This weekend’s race in Abu Dhabi will mark the end of an era for Hamilton and Mercedes, but the prospect of a fresh start with Ferrari offers him renewed motivation.

As Lewis Hamilton prepares to step into the unknown with Ferrari, his focus remains on finishing strong with Mercedes and ensuring his legacy remains intact.

With a future at the Scuderia, Hamilton is looking ahead, but not without a sense of bittersweet reflection on the team that has been home for the majority of his illustrious career.