Terrence Poole National Open & Intermediate punches off next month

Boxing fever hits Georgetown from October 25–27, as fighters from across the nation descend on the National Gymnasium for the Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) National Open and Intermediate Championships.
This year’s edition carries special significance, as the three-day event has been renamed in honour of the late Terrence Poole, the revered coach and administrator who devoted more than 40 years to Guyanese boxing.
October 2 will mark one year since Poole’s sudden passing at a Georgetown medical facility. His death sent shockwaves through Guyana’s sporting community and the wider Caribbean boxing fraternity, where he was widely regarded as one of the region’s finest technical minds.
A former member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Poole was awarded the Medal of Service (MS) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to sport and national development.
Poole made history in 2014, becoming Guyana’s first International Boxing Association (IBA) Three-Star Coach after completing the elite coaching course in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The three-star certification is the highest level attainable for amateur coaches. At the time of his passing, only Sebert Blake had joined him in Guyana with this prestigious distinction.
Poole’s extensive qualifications often saw him assisting Caribbean nations at international tournaments, especially those lacking coaches certified to at least the one-star level.
As such, GBA President Steve Ninvalle explained that naming the championship after Poole was both fitting and necessary.
“It is important that we honour him through this tournament because this was his ‘baby’,” Ninvalle said. “He put in a lot of extra work to ensure it provided a platform for emerging talent. Development was always at the heart of everything Poole did.”
As Technical Director of the GBA, Poole played a key role in successfully organising the National Open and Intermediate Championships during his tenure.
Ninvalle noted, “Given that he passed away in October, we felt it was most appropriate to keep his name and legacy alive through this event.”
In addition to this year’s National Open and Intermediate Championships, the GBA will host the Terrence Poole Memorial Tournament – an international event featuring boxers from across the Caribbean.
“Poole was an irreplaceable figure in our association, and to this day we continue to feel his absence, especially around this time when we are putting together such important events,” Ninvalle said.
Ninvalle pointed out that the upcoming championships are highly anticipated, with several boxers who excelled at the Novices eager to showcase their skills on the bigger stage.
Ninvalle noted that the upcoming championships are highly anticipated, with several boxers who excelled at the Novices eager to prove themselves on the bigger stage.