Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym makes triumphant return

– to host GBA’s U-16 Championship next weekend

After years of inactivity, the Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym is set to make a long-awaited return to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), marking a major comeback for one of the country’s most storied boxing institutions.

President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, hailed the revival as a significant boost for both the sport and youth development in Guyana. Presenting a new set of training equipment to head coach James Walcott, Ninvalle described the gym’s return as a “welcome step forward.”
“That gym has produced world-class amateurs in the past, and we’re thrilled to see it back in action,” Ninvalle related.
For Walcott, the gym’s reopening is deeply personal. Harpy Eagles had to close just before the COVID-19 pandemic, and he spent years working to keep the spirit of the gym alive.
“My mind was out of boxing for a while,” Walcott admitted. “I trained young fighters from Albouystown, but many left for more established gyms when they reached their peak. That was difficult to watch.”
The push to reopen, however, came from the Albouystown community itself. Local residents and former trainees encouraged Walcott to restart the programme, emphasising the gym’s crucial role in guiding youth away from the streets.
“We have youths that need guidance, and boxing has helped take a lot of them off the streets,” Walcott said. “This gym is here to help save many young people in Albouystown. Honestly, the young fighters I have now are the reason I’m back – they give me the encouragement to keep punching.”
Ninvalle emphasised that the GBA’s support for Harpy Eagles aligns with a broader national plan to expand boxing across Guyana. “We’re already working on projects in Linden and Region Nine, and Harpy Eagles’ return strengthens our base even more,” he said.
The gym will officially return to the competitive scene next weekend at the GBA Under-16 Championship. Ninvalle nonetheless expressed excitement about the prospects.
“This gym has always produced top youth boxers in Guyana. I’m eager to see the new talent they’ll bring to the ring.”