小拳击手的大梦想

江苏 刘晨峰

尼日利亚小拳击手蒂亚尼在拉各斯郊外的阿拉巴多的一片尘土飞扬的土地上训练。他希望能和世界上最优秀的年轻拳击手同台竞技。

Nigerian boxer Tijani Abdulazeez hits the target hard, again and again. He uses boxing gloves to protect his hands.Known as“TJ”,the boy works out on a dusty piece of land in Alagbado, a neighborhood outside Lagos.

TJ dreams that one day someone will see him box and help him travel to a country where he can grow even more in his sport. He dreams of training in a real sport center and competing against the best young boxers in the world.“I want to become a professional fighter and I want to represent Nigeria,”TJ said. His boxing awards already decorate his small home.

His father, Abdulfathi Abdulazeez,sells wood. But he also trains TJ and helps him get all the equipment for daily boxing training.Abdulfathi started the Owonikoko boxing group. He hopes boxing success will help the boys he trains feed their families one day.Until then, boxing gives the boys structure and keeps them busy and safe.

The boys jump,do push-ups and other exercises to get into good condition for boxing. They practice on rubber ground which covers the shape of a boxing ring. People stop to watch. In another neighborhood in Lagos, the boys in the club entered a series of fights. The set-up was more professional,with a full-size fight space,ropes and a crowd cheering for the young boxers.

TJ had a good day. He won another award for his family's collection.Among the crowd at the event was Akeem Kilani, a boxer himself.“TJ is a talented boxer,”he said.“You can tell he is our champion and he will be Nigeria's champion tomorrow.”

Reading Check

What is the most impressive personality of Tijani Abdulazeez according to the text?

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