On Thursday evening, the bell will ring at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for the commencement of the 2018 Caribbean Boxing Championships. It is an event which President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, strongly believes will display intense action of the highest calibre.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday held at Tower Suites, he noted, “I expect we will have competition of a very high quality. We were not supposed to host this tournament; Grenada were to be the hosts, but they fell through with their plans and we picked it up because we want to preserve this which started as the Caribbean development tournament.”
Eleven countries will be in Guyana over the next four days for what the organisers are hoping to be filled with intense action in the battle for gold and Caribbean honours.
Both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands camp sent one boxer and they are primed for the battles that lie in waiting, according to their respective coaches Julian Jackson Jr and Stuart O’Connor.
Guyana, in a quest to reclaim the title, will have a 31-member squad at their disposal, but without the services of champion boxer Keevin Allicock. There is still Colin Lewis and Desmond Amsterdam to offer tough resistance.
Technical Director, Terrence Poole, noted the team is 90% ready for action, given their recent activities in local tournaments.
He further stated: “I can already see us holding the championship trophy.”
However, Ninvalle cautioned that while the Guyanese are favourites, the opposition in Barbados, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago pose genuine threats, given the exposure their boxers have received.
A total of 76 boxers are expected to compete at the tournament, which will cost the the GBA $8.5 million.
On board assisting is the National Sports Commission, and the Director of Sport Christopher Jones outlined they have waived the fees for the usage of the facility, provided buses for transportation, donated $300,000 towards meals and indicated the free Wi-Fi at the Sports Hall will allow the fights to be streamed live.
Valuable support also was garnered from Osvaldo Bisbal, President of the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC), Demerara Distillers Limited, Khalsan PR Inc, Eton Cordis, Trustee’s Pawn Shop and Maggie’s Catering.
The participating countries are Antigua, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St. Marteen, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and the US Virgin Islands.
In addition to locals officials, Referee/Judges are coming from Curacao (1), Barbados (4), Trinidad (4), Grenada (1), Dominica (1) and Guadalupe (1).
Action starts at 18:00h on each day, with tickets being $1,000 for ring side and $500 for general seating.
Team Guyana:
(ELITE) Richard Subratee (49kg), Seon Griffith (52kg), Gibson (56kg), Jamal Eastman (60kg), Colin Lewis (64kg), Emanuel Sancho (64kg), Desmond Amsterdam (75kg), Markember Pierre (81kg), Aubrey Headley and Shamear Mingo (91kg).
(YOUTH) Irfan Tiwari (49kg), Shaquille Wright (Christopher Moore (64kg) and Jevon Thomas 975kg).
(JUNIORS) Richard Howard (46kg), Francis Sukhu (52(kg), Christopher Romeo (57(kg), Mar5k Crawford (60kg) and Kevin Mulling (66kg).
(NOVICES) Julius Kesney (52kg), Clinton Clarke (56kg), Delroy Fordyce (60kg), Kevin McKenzie (64kg), Quincy Boyce (60kg), Alex Murray (75kg), Astion Niles (81kg), Sheakeal Damon and Emmerson Farley (91kg).
(JUNIORS, WOMEN) Alesha Jackman (featherweight) and Abiola Jackman (light middleweight).
(NOVICES, WOMEN) Debra Vanderstoop (heavyweight).
