‘Big future’: Nigeria’s Adam Olaore on living up to his nickname by punching his way to the Paris Olympics

What’s in a nickname?

A lot of expectations and heart. Fortunately, Nigerian boxing sensation Adam Olaore has a powerful punch and the conviction to match it.

His accomplishments surpass his age.

At just 21, he is already a Nigerian and African champion, and has won events that have been a stepping stone for British Olympic gold medallists Nicola Adams and Anthony Joshua.

“I am a hunter. The thing for me that I believe people see when I box, is how about I want to win, I want it more than everyone else. I just want it so much,” he tells Olympics.com.

The highly accomplished and decorated boxer has earned his great nicknames, which range from the popular ‘Big Future’ to the most recent ones coined ‘The Champion’ and 'Machine', because of how hard he hits his opponents.

In only his second major event for Nigeria, the British-bred boxer wants to show his outstanding ability at the ongoing Africa Olympic Qualifier in Dakar.

"Only the best is what I want to be. That's why I never really take challenges for the elite sport, because they want to be that person the best in the weight class, the best in the sport."

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How Adam Olaore found boxing as a teenager

Adam Olaore grew up in Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria before his family moved to the UK. There, they lived in London before settling in Newcastle in England's northeast where he experimented with tennis, football, basketball, rugby, athletics, judo but no contact sport. Some years ago, a friend spotted a gym close to their home in Blyth and they decided to try out boxing.

“It was a complete coincidence if my friend never spotted it, I wouldn't be boxing today. I kept going, fell in love with it a little more every day, and before I knew it, I was already in love with boxing,” he tells Olympics.com.

The novelty- and thrill-seeker loved the ring experience.

“There was a different feeling, a different level of hardship, a different level of satisfaction when you succeed in it,” says Olaore, who began boxing when he was 14.

“There's just more on the line, with boxing it’s more dangerous, there’s more to lose. A small mistake in football leads you to lose a goal, a small mistake in boxing you might lose a tooth.”

Over the eight years of his boxing career, he’s mastered the sport bagging the 2020 English Youth title. This year, he bagged the British Championship and the prestigious new England Boxing National Amateur Champion in the under 86kg.

“I had all the opportunities I asked for, and it was just my job to perform,” says the Empire School of Boxing pugilist, who trains under Rich Stoneham and Les Welsh at Empire's gym in Blyth.

“They have been all my part of my success probably, all my accolades have won in amateur boxing has been with Richie and Les. Even the Africa title because I was cruiserweight up until April this year.

“And then I had a short time to come up to international competition, move up a weight class, and also perform well. And despite all odds, we won it. That remains my biggest accomplishment so far.”

The decision to box for Nigeria was initiated by his parents, who were initially reluctant to having their son “punched in the face”.

Adam Olaore: Living up to his many nicknames

Olaore, known for his beautiful right hand, entertained on his debut in the continental ring at the African Championships, earning one of his nicknames.

“My nickname originally coming to it was Big Future, it was and that's what it is still. But then in Cameroon, the fans started calling me “The Machine”, others calling me “champion” even before we won the championship… I don't know which one is the best one yet, but I'll let the people decide,” says the sports science graduate from the Northumbria University.

As he sifts through the landscape of the men’s 92kg in only his second international tournament, in Dakar, he doesn’t want to produce less than what he showed at the African Championships.

“I know this Olympics is the one I need to go to [because] only the best is what I want to be,” he says, speaking with surety about his dream to be one of the most decorated African boxers, inspired by Olympic medallists Benjamin Whittaker of Great Britain and the late American legend Joe Frazier.

“It will be a new beginning for everything else. When I qualify for the Olympics – because for going to the Olympics is any athlete's dream to call themselves an Olympian, it holds so much weight behind it – not only are you an elite boxer, but you're the leader of the elite. And it will be a dream come true.”

“I know I am still young, but I just don’t want to go to the Olympics. I want to do very well in the Olympics, come back with gold on my neck.”