Former National Boxing head coach Issac Ikhuoria has described late Jeremiah Okorodudu demise (Olympian), as a great loss to the entire Nigerian Boxing Federation and the Nigeria Sporting fraternity.
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The one-time national boxing coach who led the Nigerian boxing team to the Commonwealth Games in Australia and the Los Angeles Olympics disclosed this during the lying in State of the Late Boxing Icon at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
According to him:
“Jeremiah Okorodudu, (Jerry) as fondly called by friends is my boy, I discovered him. He was a highly committed boxer full of confidence and also believed in himself. When I discovered him years ago, I knew he was going to do exploits with his boxing gloves.
He started his boxing career in 1978 right in Benin City. I took him to his first International outing in Australia for the Commonwealth Games. He did wonderfully well.”
“Again I also coached him and took him to Los Angeles Olympics. I was proud of his outstanding performance. His death is a big loss to us and all boxing-loving families across the globe. We would miss him greatly. I just pray that God gives his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
“God knows the best, we cannot question him, today he is no more but one good thing about him is that he lived a good legacy behind. You can see the crowd that has come to pay their last respect to him which shows how useful he was when he was alive.”
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of Edo State Sports Commission Mrs. Sabina Chikere also described the late Jerry Okorodudu as a great man whose boxing career touched many lives while on earth.
“We are all pained over the death of the late Jeremiah Okorodudu. Is painful that it happened this time, he was somebody to reckon with, he tried in his own way, we all know he started his boxing career here in Benin City, he has tutored a lot of athletes, he was a boxer of note, is a painful death.
We have really lost somebody, a boxing Icon, but what can we do? We can’t question God.
We pray God will grant his soul eternal rest, and also pray God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. And also grant the State the fortitude to bear the loss. Okorodudu touched so many lives, he represented Bendel State and made us proud. An Olympian like him so is a big loss to the entire Sports family.
I pray he finds peace in God. He came, he saw and he conquered.”
The family of the late boxer was presented with an award from the Nigeria Olympic Association, led by coach Isaac ikhuoria.
Present at the event were the family members of later Jerry Okorodudu, their wife, children, the permanent secretary of Edo state sports commission Mrs. Sabina Chikere, the Executive director, sports Development and Operations Edo state sports commission, Dr. Emmanuel Igbinosa, the director of facilities, Edo state sports commission Victor Edokpayi, Staff of Edo state sports commission, Ex international Edema fuludu, Austin Popo, Boxing and sports personalities, late Jerry okorodudu boxing teammates Christopher ossai, Roland omoruyi, Williams O, Nana, among others
The corpse of the late Jerry Boy Okorodudu later left the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City en route to Delta State where his remains will be committed to Mother Earth on Saturday, August 12th, 2023 at his residence in Agbarha- Otor.
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