Nine medals for Guyana at Senior Caribbean Boxing Championships

Guyana has relinquished the senior Caribbean boxing title, but according to coach Terrence Poole, the outing produced creditable results since they fielded a relatively inexperienced squad in Trinidad and Tobago at the weekend.

A total of nine medals, equally captured in gold, silver and bronze, were not enough to stop the hosts, who finished second when the tournament was in Guyana last year, from doing one better in 2019.  Barbados placed second.

Gold medals came from the dependable Keevin Allicock in the Bantamweight class, along with the two Jackman sisters, on their first overseas tour.

Fifteen-year-old Alesha won gold via a unanimous decision against Jamaican, Britney McFarlane in the Young Women Novice 64kg category, while 17-year-old Abilola won the Women’s Novice Division 69kg final.

Guyana Boxing Association President, Steve Ninvalle, stated it was astronomically important to have the Jackman sisters tour and they have delivered, which, in his opinion, was the highlight for Guyana.

Dennis Thomas added another silver medal to his cabinet after he lost to US Virgin Islands’ boxer, Deion Pruitt via points.

Mark Crawford lost in the Youth Lightweight 60kg division to Trinidadian Blessing Waldropt, while Jullius Kesney went down to Barbadian Jabali Breedy in a bantamweight battle.

The bronze medal winners were Kevin Hunte, Josh Howard and Daren France.

Coach Poole stated with only Allicock, Thomas, Colin Lewis and Desmond Amsterdam being the elite boxers, the team produced a good fight.

Poole’s excitement comes from how the inexperienced fighters performed, which has enthused him over the country’s prospects.

The coach added there were some more than questionable decisions by the judges which they were forced to appeal. According to Poole, the four elite boxers listed will probably before Christmas head to Cuba where they will train until the Olympic qualifiers in March. Poole and Sebert Blake will be the coaches attending intermittently.