Developments in local boxing: Republican Boxing Gym back in action

The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has officially confirmed the revival of the Republican Gym; which, following a five-year hiatus, will make its competitive re-emergence at the 2023 edition of the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis National Novices Championships, which run from this evening to Sunday, October 1st, at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.
This popular fighting stable will feature 10 boxers in the tournament, and they will be under the tutelage of national coach Lennox Daniels; who, under the auspices of the National Sports Commission, has been working assiduously with the group at the Lusignan Prison Facility, East Coast Demerara.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle has said, “Like the proverbial phoenix (rising) from the ashes, the Republican Gym has re-emerged, and their reappearance — which is very significant, given their historic contributions to the discipline and the overall fraternity — has been a project that was directly undertaken and assisted by the GBA and the National Sports Commission.”
He further said, “We comprehend the significance of providing opportunities and a platform for individuals to display their aptitudes, and these occasions and chances should be available and afforded to all and sundry. The GBA anticipates, much to the benefit of the tournament, that their re-emergence will serve as a catalyst for the gym’s continued vibrancy. As such, the gym was provided a quality coaching apparatus administered by national coach Lennox Daniels for their utilisation, so that their return will be as memorable as it’s competitive.”

Ninvalle reminded that when coached by Wincell Thomas, the Republican Gym had turned the tables on the highly favoured GDF Gym at the 2014 National Intermediate Championships.
This year’s National Novice Championships, which will feature participation from notable gyms such as defending champion the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, Forgotten Youth Foundation, Pace and Power, Rose Hall, and Vergenoegen, will commence on a daily basis from 18:00hrs. The medical assessment and weight-in exercise was held yesterday at the National Gymnasium.
Staged in honour of former world champion Andrew Six Heads Lewis, who met his unfortunate demise in a vehicular accident on May 4th, 2015, the championships have birthed the journey of numerous of the nation’s leading premier amateur pugilists.