International boxing returns to the National Gymnasium on February 19 when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) in collaboration with McDonald Promotions, stages the 2023 edition of the Patrick Forde Memorial Championship.
The one-day event will be the first international sporting venture staged on local shores for 2023 for any discipline, and it will attract participation from Guyana, Barbados, Suriname, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.
The COVID-19 pandemic was the reason for the event’s absence, with the previous edition being staged in 2019 and only featuring international participation in the form of Suriname and Guyana.
While a total of 15 bouts are scheduled, 11 international fights are confirmed for the night’s proceedings, with the emerging school boys division, which is the nursery of the GBA, also expected to feature, albeit in a local capacity.
The competition will also mark an important resumption of female international boxing, as rising stars and siblings Alisha and Abiola Jackman will return to the squared circle in preparation for the IBA Women’s World Championship in New Delhi, India, from March 15-31, 2023.
It will be Alisha’s first taste of international combat, while this will be Abiola’s reappearance on the international circuit since winning gold at the 2019 Caribbean Championship in Trinidad and Tobago.
Meanwhile, Sportsman-of-the-Year, GBA Boxer-of-the-Year, and the highest-ranked local IBA pugilist [on 23], Desmond Amsterdam, will headline the international section, which will also feature Junior Commonwealth Silver medalist Keevin Allicock and Colin Lewis.
According to information emanating from the GBA, public interest in the tournament is at a zenith, as tickets that were initially available have been sold out, which is indicative of the sport’s growing momentum and direction.
The prestigious competition is staged in honour of the late pugilist, who etched his name in the annals of Guyana’s boxing history by becoming the first Guyanese to contest for the world title under the Golden Arrowhead.
In his first attempt at international glory, Forde lost a contentious bout to Mexican Salvador Sanchez for the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title on September 13, 1980.
Forde, who captured the WBC Fecarbox title and Commonwealth featherweight championship, lost his second bid at international glory at the hands of Eusebio Pedroza of Panama. He ended his career with an impressive 23-fight record of 19 wins and four defeats.
Forde, who was the brother of pugilist Reginald Forde, passed away in 2011 at the age of 55.
The official international fight card
- Jamal Eastman (GUY) vs Domelzo Schet (SUR)
- Qunice Boyce (GUY) vs Richard Evert (SUR)
- Nikaela Khodra (STL) vs Leeann Boodram (T&T) (FEMALE)
- Brian Harris (GUY) vs Jaden Castillano (T&T)
- Alesha Jackman (GUY) vs Shawnelle Hamid (T&T) (FEMALE)
- Joel Williamson (GUY) vs Jeremiah Toussaint (BAR)
- Colin Lewis (GUY) vs Nathan Debesette (T&T)
- Abiola Jackman (GUY) vs Kamara Stuart (BAR)
- Keevin Allicock (GUY) vs Samuel Greene (SUR)
- Troy Glasgow (GUY) vs Leandro Dongo (SUR)
- Desmond Amsterdam (GUY) vs Nickelle Joseph (T&T)
