Lagos – A once celebrated boxer, Jerry Okorodudu, has resumed duty as a national coach after reinstatement by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

The NSC reinstated the coach following a court ruling.

The middleweight 75kg pugilist, between 1981 and 1984, was a national champion and African champion.

He was suspended in 1995 as a national boxing coach for abandoning his duty for a professional career in the U.S.

Okorodudu said on Thursday in Lagos that he had been reinstated by the commission, and that part of his salaries and allowances had been paid.

According to him, his outstanding benefits will be paid in installments.

The boxer, who was in his newly allocated office at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, said: “For 23 years, I was in anguish and penury, and isolated from my first family, boxing”.

He expressed confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

The boxer thanked the Sports Minister and Chairman of the NSC, Bolaji Abdullahi, and the NSC Director, Gbenga Alegbeleye, for obeying the court ruling.

He also thanked the Boxing Coaches’ Association for the reception it gave him on his return.

“Now that I am back as a national coach, I will bring my wealth of experience to bear on the national team,” Okorodudu said.

Okorodudu sued the sports ministry for suspending him from work and stopping his salary and allowances.

Okorodudu won a silver medal at the Pre-Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. In 1985, he was named Africa’s Best Boxer. (NAN)