Cynthia Ogunsemilore burst on the scene as a teenager in 2019 by showing her quality in the ring across amateur bouts held in Lagos, Nigeria. Since then Ogunsemilore has become the cynosure of all eyes, thanks to her dexterity in the roped sport, which has her opponents kissing the canvass in no time and boxing fans asking for more.
A product of the monthly Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF) title bout, the former student of Ifako Comprehensive Senior High School took to boxing in her teens. In no time, she was representing Nigeria at international tournaments.
Through dint of hard work coupled with support from her coach and family, one of the 20-year-old dreams in the sport came to pass as she made the podium at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, settling for the bronze medal in the women’s lightweight category. The Lagos-based pugilist spoke with sportsafricana.com on her experience in Birmingham, plus her future dreams and aspirations in boxing.
In her first bout at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games against Botswana’s Aratwa Kasemang, Cynthia Ogunsemilore was merciless with her punches. Kasemang was soon dazed and obviously not up to the challenge Ogunsemilore posed to her. The referee had to stop the contest and awarded it to the debutant Ogunsemilore.
That win put her in medal zone and she was pitched against home girl Amy Broadhurst in the semifinal.
A determined Ogunsemilore entered the ring with the hope of doing the impossible against the experienced opponent who also had the support of the home fans.
At the end of the three-round bout Broadhurst won.
This outcome incensed Ogunsemilore who cried profusely. But she was pacified by National Coach Tony Konyegwachie who told her to take solace in the bronze medal.
Narrating her foray into boxing after winning an amateur bout in 2019, Ogunsemilore said: “I started boxing at the age of 12 in 2013. I never had it in mind to be a boxer, but my father and my coach were childhood friends and used to box together before my father died. In November 2013, he came to tell my dad that he was looking for an opponent for one of his female boxers. The coach saw me and said that I had the height for boxing.”
But the young Ogunsemilore was unconvinced, especially as she was afraid that boxing would batter her face.
“I did not want them to spoil my face, but he persuaded me that my face would not be battered,” she added. With encouragement from her father, Ogunsemilore decided to embrace the sport.
Three years later, Ogunsemilore boxed her to the national camp and made the team to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom (UK).
As her maiden international outing, the bronze medalist at the 2018 National Sports Festival described her experience in Birmingham as “worthwhile”.
“Making the team to the Commonwealth Games through national trials was not that easy but I thank God I made it to my first international tournament,” she admitted.
“At Birmingham, I had the best two weeks of my life experiencing the Commonwealth Games. I took a lot away from the Games not just from my event but being there and witnessing the highs and lows of other athletes, watching how other athletes act and prepare before their competition.
“All my fights were tough at the Commonwealth games but my toughest fight was my semifinal against Amy Broadhurst of Northern Ireland. After the fight, I was initially disappointed in myself but later I thought to myself that at least I made it to the podium. I believe that if we have had enough preparation for the competition I might have won the Gold,” she added.
One lesson Ogunsemilore picked from Birmingham is early and thorough preparation. “We must prepare very well for this kind of competition. I also learnt that you should never underestimate your opponent. You must always listen to your coach because they see what you are not seeing.”
Also, the hairstylist blamed her inexperience in Birmingham on lack of exposure.
“I think if we have enough financial support from the government like some sports do, that will allow us to attend many international competitions and that will bring back the old glory of boxing in Nigeria,” she enthused.
Ogunsemilore looks forward to the 2023 African Games in Ghana and is eager to bring more glories to Nigeria.
She said: “I want to be the national champion, African champion and I want the whole world to know me. I want to fly the Nigerian flag in different countries. I want to win many international and world titles.”