Boxer Allicock completes Russia training; off to Tokyo for Olympic Games

After an intense three-week training camp in Russia, Guyanese boxer Keevin Allicock is off to Tokyo for the Olympic Games, beginning Friday (July 23).

Allicock, 22, and AIBA Three-Star coach Sebert Blake left Russia on Monday for Japan where the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games silver medallist will compete in the 52-57kg class.

Blake, speaking to News Room Sport, said the high-intensity session in Russia was extremely fruitful and Allicock is in a good place heading into the Games.

According to Blake, Allicock was exposed to sparring with several boxers who are ranked in the top 10 of the world in the 52-57kg and 63kg classes.

“So rest assured we were getting real top quality sparring sessions. Keevin has been improving and it’s been happening on a daily basis,” Blake observed.

The coach said the next few weeks is about Allicock making use of the knowledge gained at the camp, and putting that to use at the global Games.

Allicock gained a spot at the Olympics based of his world ranking of 19 and being ranked seventh in the Americas. He is the first Guyanese boxer to qualify for the Olympics in 25 years, following in the footsteps of John Douglas in the 1996 Games.

There is the popular opinion that Allicock is Guyana’s best chance of adding to the lone Olympic medal won by the country when fellow boxer Michael Parris copped a bronze at the 1980 Games in Moscow.

Below is Guyana’s full contingent to the Games:

Garfield Wiltshire- Chef-de-Mission

Angelica Holder- COVID Liaison Officer/Physiotherapist

Deion Nurse- Secretary General

Aliann Pompey- Athlete Representative

Julian Edmonds- Athletics Manager/Coach

Denzel Abrams- Athletics Coach

Idi Lewis- Table Tennis Coach

Sebert Blake- Boxing Coach

Shyka Gonsalves- Swimming Coach

Aliyah Abrams- (Athlete) Women’s 400m

Jasmine Abrams- (Athlete) Women’s 100m

Emanuel Archibald- (Athlete) Men’s 100m

Chelsea Edghill- (Athlete) Women’s Table Tennis

Keevin Allicock- (Athlete) 52-57kg Boxing

Aleka Persaud- (Athlete) 50m Freestyle

Andrew Fowler- (Athlete) 100m Freestyle