Daniels envisions ‘tough, action- packed’ Terrence Poole National Intermediate

National Boxing Coach Lennox Daniels has sent a clear and urgent message to local pugilists as they prepare for the impeding Terrence Poole National Intermediate Championship. Scheduled for later this month, Daniels has been encouraging gyms across the country to ‘sharpen their skills through the Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) Developmental Programme’.
Declaring that the upcoming competition, from October 25- 27, will be no walk in the park, Daniels envisioned that the event being held in honour of the late and legendary coach Terrence Poole will be a tough, action-packed bout of talent.
This weekend, the GBA’s Developmental Programme returned to the Andrew “Six Head” Lewis Gym in Albouystown, a venue that has already seen plenty of punches traded following last weekend’s successful card.
According to Daniels, gyms from Berbice dominated the last clash, taking the lion’s share of the 11 bouts on the night, with the others going to the “Six Head” Gym.
He credited the hard work being put in across the ancient county, particularly in New Amsterdam and Rose Hall.
“We’re seeing real enthusiasm from the gyms, and hopefully this week we’ll see full cooperation from all corners of the country,” Daniels said.
According to Daniels, “the boxers are eager to show what they’ve been training for, and honestly, we’ve got a good problem on our hands at the GBA; if we had to select a national team right now, it would be tough because the level of talent is that strong.”
The upcoming National Open and Intermediate Championships will not only showcase Guyana’s best fighters at those levels, but also serve as a fitting tribute to Terrence Poole, a man regarded as one of the finest technical minds in Caribbean boxing.
During his tenure as Technical Director of the GBA, Poole was the chief architect of these very championships, turning them into a proving ground for boxers hungry to step up in class.
Adding to this year’s programme, the GBA has announced the Terrence Poole Memorial Tournament, an international fixture that will see Caribbean boxers step into the ring against Guyana’s best.
It will be a card worthy of the man whose name it carries, bringing regional fighters together in the spirit of competition, respect, and development.
October 2 marked one year since Poole’s sudden passing at a medical facility in Georgetown, a loss that sent shockwaves through Guyana’s sporting community and the Caribbean boxing fraternity at large.
A former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) stalwart, Poole’s service went far beyond the ropes; he was decorated with the Medal of Service (MS) for his contribution to sport and national development.
In 2014, Poole made history when he became Guyana’s first AIBA Three-Star Coach after completing the elite coaching course in Kazakhstan, the highest level attainable for amateur coaches, set him apart, with only Sebert Blake later joining him at that standard in Guyana.