For his sterling efforts in the ring throughout 2022, Elite Boxer Desmond Amsterdam was deemed the Best Boxer by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) at its awards on Thursday evening.
Just a few weeks ago, Amsterdam was voted the country’s Senior Sportsman-of-the-Year for 2021-2022.
Amsterdam, a light heavyweight boxer, created history for Guyana in 2022 when he won bronze at the American Boxing Confederation Championships in Ecuador, which meant he became the first Guyanese boxer to win prize money at the Championship.
The Guyana Defence Force athlete also copped bronze at the South American Games in Paraguay and battled to the quarter-finals at the Commonwealth Games, all of which piloted him to becoming Guyana’s highest-ranked boxer (23rd) by the International Boxing Association.
Fellow GDF compatriot, Terrence Poole, MS, was deemed the Best Coach for 2022 by the Boxing Association.
Setting the benchmark
GBA President Steve Ninvalle indicated that boxing development takes an “all-inclusive” approach involving boxers, coaches and administrators.
“If you look back at boxing, we have always delivered and we will deliver at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris,” Ninvalle confidently stated, further revealing they have taken a pragmatic approach to training that is bound to bring success.
“It is the worst kept secret that what sometimes we in Guyana start, members of the Caribbean follow,” the President added.
He highlighted the move to financially reward boxers at the Terrance Ali Open as “future thinking” and “momentous” since it was the first time in the Caribbean.
Later this month, GBA will host the Patrick Forde Memorial tournament with participation from St. Lucia, Barbados, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, while the Jackman sisters- Alesha and Abiola- will compete at the Women’s World Championship in India in March.
A team will also be at the male Elite World Championship in Uzbekistan in October, and according to the Association’s President, though resources are limited, they wanted to give exposure to athletes who have the tenacity to compete.
Successful year for Boxing
Poole, who is also the National Coach, highlighted 2022 was a very successful year for amateur boxing as the Association completed all of its statuary competitions and it formed the basis for unearthing more talents.
Jerimiah Duncan was adjudged the best boxer when Guyana hosted and retained the title for the Caribbean Schoolboys and Girls Junior Championships ahead of St. Lucia, Barbados, The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago.
On the international scene, Travis Inverary attended the South American Youth Games and got to the quarter-finals; Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam, and Jamal Eastman attended the AMBC Continental Championship where Amsterdam won bronze and was financially rewarded by the International Boxing Association.
Also, Lewis, Amsterdam and Keevin Allicock attended the Commonwealth Games in London. Both Allicock and Amsterdam reached the quarter-finals.
The same trio attended the South American Games, and it was Amsterdam and Allicock, who won bronze medals. Allicock was also the first boxer in 25 years to represent Guyana at an Olympic Games when he did so in 2021.
Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Seon Bristol applauded the members for their efforts, which resulted in the Guyana Boxing Association being named the National Sports Commission’s Association-of-the-Year for 2021-2022.
He said there are more developmental plans in store, which will hopefully see them retain such a status at future awards.
Assistant Chair of the National Sports Commission, Cristy Campbell reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to sport and noted boxing is not excluded as they seek to execute the vision of President Irfaan Ali under the stewardship of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.
List of Awardees:
- Best Boxer (Elite) – Desmond Amsterdam
- Best Coach – Terrence Poole, MS
- Best Boxer (Schoolboys) – Ezekiel Bancroft
- Best Boxer (Junior) – Jeremiah Duncan
- Best Boxer (Youth) – Travis Inverary
- Best Referee/Judge – Germain Craig
For sterling contributions to the sport of Boxing
- Harold Hopkinson– (Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc.)
- Dr. Marissa Alissa Parris
- Elton Chase
- Clinton Moore
- Seon Bristol
- Sebert Blake
