The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has welcomed the momentous announcement of the impending visit of former undisputed World Champion Lennox Lewis and labels it “historic for Guyana.”
President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, had announced during his recent visit to Canada that the former superstar of the sport would visit and look to build Guyana’s boxing portfolio.
GBA President Steve Ninvalle commended Ali for his “visionary leadership” in helping boost the sport’s image.
Dates are yet to be confirmed for Lewis, who retired at the pinnacle of the discipline with a remarkable professional record of 41-2-1 (32 knockouts).
Ninvalle said, “This is an invitation for evolution and advancement. His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali has once again demonstrated the foresight and vision in his quest to develop not only individual sports, in this instance the discipline of boxing, but the entirety of the nation’s sporting landscape and culture.
The GBA commends this initiative, which advances and advocates the government’s position on sports via the construction of the sector and ecosystem via the established inspiration approach.”
The GBA head added, “Local boxing is on the ascendency, that is evidentiary, and the visit of former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, arguably the greatest boxer of his generation, will certainly and further ignite the flames of evolution. This visit can act as the catalyst for further evolution and inspiration of the combatants.
Moreover, it can serve as the stimulant and facilitator for the evolution of Caribbean boxing, of which Guyana is at the forefront in the English-speaking fragment.”
He further said, “The visit of Lewis, as ascribed as President Ali, is part of the government’s strategic exertions and initiatives to create a brand for Guyana that also encompasses sport and entertainment.
Lewis’s visit is also an acknowledgment by His Excellency of the importance of boxing as an avenue for the development of Guyana’s international profile, as it remains the only local discipline to have achieved an Olympic medal. This feat is also apparent and recognized in the English-speaking Caribbean by its solitary status also in this regard.”
Guyana is the only English-speaking full member of CARICOM to have achieved a medal at the prestigious games in the sport.
Cuba, in particular, is second all-time on the medal table at the Summer Olympiad with a record of 37 gold, 19 silver, and 17 bronze medals.
