Poole “100% confident” boxers will qualify for CAC Games

Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Technical Director Terrence Poole is overwhelmed with confidence that Keevin Allicock and Collin Lewis will qualify for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games slated for July 19- August 3 in Colombia.
The duo departed Guyana on Wednesday destined to Mexico City where they participate in a training programme from March 1-8 ahead of the qualifiers from March 10 in Tijuana.
“That is the reason they are going there. B

oth of them have 100% chance each of qualifying for CAC Games but before they get into that they will do the training camp. They were in preparation since last year so they definitely should see themselves going to the games,” Poole told Guyana Times Sport on Wednesday.
He added, “The great advantage for them is acclimatisation which is important as we know Mexico is a very high place but they have enough days to settle and if they do this they will be able to perform at their best.”
Poole who is the country’s first Three Star-accredited coach gaged their readiness based on Sunday’s Patrick Ford Memorial card where both fighters showed ominous signs.

The 18 year-old Allicock who fights for the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym got in the ring with Jamal Eastman of the Rose Hall Gym and battered the Berbician until the final three seconds into the final round in their bantamweight bout.
While Lewis, a 24 year-old from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) gym for the second time in two months ‘parked’ St Lucia’s Nathan Ferrari with a knock-out blow just one minute 54 seconds into the first round.
“The results showed progress was made with training; Ferrari is not any easy opponent and Lewis destroying him in half of a round was tremendous while though Allicock had defeated Eastman before the coaches were not stratified in the manner but this time he came better which shows improvement.”
A number of Caribbean and Latin American countries are set to participate in the qualifiers in which Poole will join the team on March 8.
After the qualifiers, the boxers will turn their attention to the Commonwealth Games from April 4-15 in Australia. Though Poole was unable to confirm any overseas training stints, GBA President Steve Ninvalle had submitted a proposal to the Guyana Olympic Association for duo to be engaged in a training stint with the renowned trainer Gary St. Clair at his gym Australia. (Akeem Greene)