VOA慢速英语--一名尼日利亚男孩希望在国际拳击比赛中取得成功

This is the sound of 15-year-old Nigerian boxer¹ Tijani Abdulazeez training.

He hits the target hard, again and again. He uses boxing gloves to protect his hands

Known as "TJ," the boy works² 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 boxers³ in the world.

"I want to become a professional fighter, like Anthony Joshua, Mike Tyson, Tyson Fury⁴, 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 said he hopes boxing success will help the boys he trains feed their families one day.

Until then, the boxing gives the boys structure and keeps them busy and safe.

Sports, he said, prevent them from "becoming a nuisance⁵."

The boys jump, do push-ups and other exercises to get into good condition for boxing.

They practice on rubber ground covers placed in 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.

Words in This Story

boxer - n. someone who participates in the sport of boxing

gloves - n. a very thick, padded⁶ covering for the hand that is worn in the sport of boxing

decorate - v. to put something around a room to make it look attractive

nuisance – n. a person, thing, or situation that is annoying or that causes trouble or problems — usually singular

1 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 boxers   

n.拳击短裤；（尤指职业）拳击手( boxer的名词复数 )；拳师狗

参考例句：

• The boxers were goaded on by the shrieking crowd. 拳击运动员听见观众的喊叫就来劲儿了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The boxers slugged it out to the finish. 两名拳击手最后决出了胜负。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 fury   

n.狂怒，激烈，狂怒的人，（希神）复仇女神

参考例句：

• She felt a wave of wild fury overcame her.她顿时觉得怒不可遏。
• He flew into fury when I said I couldn't help him.当我说不能帮助他时，他立刻暴跳如雷。

5 nuisance   

n.讨厌的东西，讨厌的人

参考例句：

• The dog is a terrible nuisance.这只狗真令人讨厌。
• What a horrid nuisance!真讨厌！

6 padded   

adj.（服装）有衬里的，带衬垫的v.给…装衬垫，加垫子( pad的过去式和过去分词 )；步行，放轻脚步走

参考例句：

• The critic padded out the review with quotation from the author. 这个评论家引用那个作家的话添凑了这篇评论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• My mother sewed a new cotton-padded jacket for me. 妈妈给我缝制一件新棉袄。 来自《简明英汉词典》