– As Guyana welcomes Caribbean Boxing Champions home
Guyana’s contingent of 16 pugilists underlined their dominance in this fistic sport when they participated in the Caribbean Boxing Championships in St Lucia last weekend and emerged with 35 points and, most importantly, reclaimed the title of AMBC Caribbean Boxing Champions which had eluded them for 7 years.
As such, they returned to their homeland as national heroes, and were welcomed as distinguished personages at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Monday evening with the captivating tunes of drums and national songs.
At a loss for words by his own admission, Team Manager Seon Bristol, speaking in regard to the team’s achievement, declared, “I can’t say how pleased [I am]! This trip has been my first experience taking such a large entourage out of Guyana in regards to representing.
You all must be proud of what this boxing team have done and accomplished in regard to boxing in the Caribbean. I’m quite overwhelmed and short of words, due to excitement. Everyone did what was expected of them, from the smallest to the largest!”
From left are: Terron Wintz, Abiola Jackman and Keevin Allicock, who each walked away from the Caribbean Boxing Championships with individual prizes
Recently crowned ‘Best Elite Boxer’ in the Caribbean, Guyana’s team leader Keevin Allicock, the four-time Caribbean Champion, in praising his teammates and coaches for their efforts in St. Lucia, expressed, “I’m truly honoured to stand here to represent my country again. My team did well. We gained the crown. You asked for it, we went and we delivered. I want to say thanks to the coaches. You guys put in all the work, and this is what you reap after a successful event.”
Delivering the feature address on this occasion, Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle highlighted the Association’s heavy investment in nursery programmes, which are now paying dividends.
“The reason we could’ve been so good at this year’s tournament is because of the fact that we have invested heavily in our nursery. As a matter of fact, last year we would’ve had 18 under-16 tournaments being held. This year, we plan to have 24; which basically says we would have two tournaments per month,” Ninvalle explained.
GBA President Steve Ninvalle had a major announcement to share with the Guyanese pugilists
Further, he said, “Keevin Allicock is a product of our Pepsi/Mike Parris Tournament. Mr. Wintz, who has been named Best Boxer, is a product of that. Ms. Abiola Jackman is also a product of that. And most of our boxers who we sent to this tournament have been a product of the Pepsi/ Mike Parris Tournament. What does this say? It says that Guyana is doing something that other countries in the Caribbean are now trying to copy; and, you know, the best form of flattery is imitation.”
Ninvalle also had a major announcement to share, which is set to transform the sport’s delivery in Berbice.
Ninvalle divulged, “We have two boxers from Berbice who would’ve won gold medals, one from the Rose Hall Jammers Gym and one from the newly-formed New Amsterdam Gym. And I’m willing to say this now: your performance does not, and will not, fall on deaf ears; because, in this year’s budget, Government has set aside $80 million for the building of a spanking new boxing gym in Berbice!
“In Guyanese parlance, we say ‘put your money where your mouth is’. Government has done that,” Ninvalle cheekily added.
Guyana ended the Caribbean Boxing Championships with 14 medals: nine gold, three silver, and two bronze.
Guyana clinched 35 points for victory, Trinidad and Tobago were in second place with 28 points, and hosts St. Lucia were in third with 21 points.
