For the second time in two years, the coronavirus pandemic has caused the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Olympic qualifier to be cancelled.
The fate of contact sports has always hung in the balance since the pandemic hit. Boxing is no exception, and it is for this same reason that the Americas boxing qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics has been cancelled for a second and final time.
The qualifier was slated for May 10-16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but given the rising cases in the South American region and the nature of the event, which would cause a large number of international boxers to gather, it was called off.
Additionally, the World Olympic Qualifier for boxing has also been cancelled, leaving a number of questions looming, especially for the Guyanese team.
According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Boxing Task Force (BTF), an executive decision has been made, to allocate the 49 available spots from the Qualifiers by way of rankings.
The BTF revealed, “These places will be allocated via BTF rankings in accordance with section D3 of the Tokyo 2020 Qualification System for boxing, dated for March 2021.”
Keevin Allicock (red) stands the best chance of qualifying for the Olympics, based on rankings
The organisation added, “The reallocation of an additional 13 quota places originally due to be obtained at the global qualifier, which was cancelled in February, will be conducted after the allocation of the 49 quota spots.”
The decision will take effect once approved by the IOC Board on May 7.
For the Guyanese boxers – Keevin Allicock, Desmond Amsterdam, Colin Lewis and Canada-based Taveena Kum – this decision may work in their favour.
Allicock is ranked 19th in the amateur boxing world.
Currently, the local team are still in training with Coaches Terrence Poole and Sebert Blake.
While the Guyanese pugilists await their fate, Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle had explained to <<Guyana Times Sport>>> that the safety of the country’s boxers was paramount.
“It is no use you’re sending your fighters out and their safety is not guaranteed. I’m not saying that you could have safety (in) anything guaranteed 100 per cent, (but) there must be a percentage which you will accept. Once I’m at the helm of the Association, that is what we will continue to do, anything else will be secondary,” he said.
Ninvalle also shared on that occasion, that he would be closely monitoring the travel situation, in order to protect the boxers.
“I’m also saying that this will go for the team to the Olympic qualifiers also,” Ninvalle declared.
“That if there is anything threatening (to affect) their well-being and their safety and their health, then we will have to make a decision, and we will make that decision and we will not make any apologies for putting safety, well-being and health foremost,” the GBA President told this publication in a previous interview.
