03:43Adesanya Joel 'Tony' Adebayo has used a wheelchair almost all of his life and has trained relentlessly to become South Africa's first wheelchair boxer while promoting the sport across Africa and the world.
Footage filmed in Johannesburg on Saturday shows Adebayo in a training session with his coach as well as during drills at the heavy bag in his boxing gym.
His daily routine starts early with a long-distance workout in his wheelchair to stay in shape which he said was key to a sport that heavily relies on upper body strength.
"Working with Tony has been a great experience because Tony has had working and shows a lot of dedication [..] He's always showing up for training and I have never seen a day with Tony, that he never showed for training," his coach said.
After leaving Nigeria in 2007, his journey has led him to promote his passion across Africa and beyond.
"I've been given opportunity to come to Poland, to come and showcase my wheelchair boxing with an opponent in Poland. So I think that will be happening next year, April," Adebayo said.
According to him, there are dozens of African wheelchair boxers. Due to a lack of national or international associations in this niche discipline, athletes like Tony have to rely on loose groups which organise competitive events independently.
South Africa's first wheelchair boxer fights to promote sport internationally
Adesanya Joel 'Tony' Adebayo has used a wheelchair almost all of his life and has trained relentlessly to become South Africa's first wheelchair boxer while promoting the sport across Africa and the world.
Footage filmed in Johannesburg on Saturday shows Adebayo in a training session with his coach as well as during drills at the heavy bag in his boxing gym.
His daily routine starts early with a long-distance workout in his wheelchair to stay in shape which he said was key to a sport that heavily relies on upper body strength.
"Working with Tony has been a great experience because Tony has had working and shows a lot of dedication [..] He's always showing up for training and I have never seen a day with Tony, that he never showed for training," his coach said.
After leaving Nigeria in 2007, his journey has led him to promote his passion across Africa and beyond.
"I've been given opportunity to come to Poland, to come and showcase my wheelchair boxing with an opponent in Poland. So I think that will be happening next year, April," Adebayo said.
According to him, there are dozens of African wheelchair boxers. Due to a lack of national or international associations in this niche discipline, athletes like Tony have to rely on loose groups which organise competitive events independently.
Adesanya Joel 'Tony' Adebayo has used a wheelchair almost all of his life and has trained relentlessly to become South Africa's first wheelchair boxer while promoting the sport across Africa and the world.
Footage filmed in Johannesburg on Saturday shows Adebayo in a training session with his coach as well as during drills at the heavy bag in his boxing gym.
His daily routine starts early with a long-distance workout in his wheelchair to stay in shape which he said was key to a sport that heavily relies on upper body strength.
"Working with Tony has been a great experience because Tony has had working and shows a lot of dedication [..] He's always showing up for training and I have never seen a day with Tony, that he never showed for training," his coach said.
After leaving Nigeria in 2007, his journey has led him to promote his passion across Africa and beyond.
"I've been given opportunity to come to Poland, to come and showcase my wheelchair boxing with an opponent in Poland. So I think that will be happening next year, April," Adebayo said.
According to him, there are dozens of African wheelchair boxers. Due to a lack of national or international associations in this niche discipline, athletes like Tony have to rely on loose groups which organise competitive events independently.