All plans in place for Patrick Forde Memorial on Sunday

Local pugilists are perfecting their punches this week as all plans are in place for the hosting of the second annual Patrick Forde Memorial Boxing tournament on Sunday, February 17.
As per usual, the punches will be exchanged in the rings at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, with the first bell slated to go off at 19:00h.
This year’s boxing tourney is expected to be bigger and better, with the first indication of this being the addition of a team of fighters from another country. In the inaugural tournament last year, Guyana, St Lucia and Suriname were the three countries that participated. This time around, the Patrick Forde Memorial will see the addition of Trinidad and Tobago.
While Suriname are still to confirm their team, who are expected to arrive on Saturday, Trinidad and Tobago have already detailed a four-member boxing team

that will be accompanied by a manager and coach. Blessings Waldropt will be their youth boxer while Nyrell Hosein fights in the capacity of junior boxer. Aaron Prince and Justin Parris will be the elite boxers. St Lucia will be sending a lone soldier in the form of Arthur Langelier, who is hyped and ready for his middleweight rematch with Desmond Amsterdam, which was won by the Guyanese at the Caribbean Boxing Championships back in December.
The weight classes that will be featured on the night of February 17 are middleweight, lightweight, bantamweight, junior welterweight and light heavyweight. According to Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle, these classes are seen as the key ones for development.
“Those are the divisions that we would have done quite well in at the Caribbean championships, so we’re trying to push to make sure that these guys get some much-needed competition leading up to Pan Am,” Ninvalle had explained.
The Guyanese contingent will comprise Desmond Amsterdam, Keevin Allicock, Jamal Eastman and the Jackman sisters, Alicia and Abiola, who will feature in

female fights, amongst others.
Ninvalle is optimistic about the chances of the Guyanese pugilists this time around, noting that they are training hard for the event.
“I’m heartened by what I’m seeing and what I’m hearing; the local fighters are hard at training and I think they’ll be much better prepared than last year,” Ninvalle said.
Last year’s inaugural tournament saw Colin “Superman” Lewis being hailed as the best boxer overall, while Ravin Rodrigues was awarded the best junior boxer title. Chris Moore was adjudged the best youth boxer while Deeron Williams was seen as the best schoolboy boxer. Alisha Jackman was recognised as the best female boxer in the competition.
The first punch will be thrown at 19:00h (7pm) and ringside tickets are priced at $2000 while the stands will cost $1000.