GBA head hails next generation of Guyanese boxers following Caribbean C’ship success

Following Guyana’s dominant performance at the recently concluded Caribbean Boxing Championship in St. Lucia, president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, has praised the next generation of pugilists who excelled in both the youth and junior divisions.

The local team returned home with a haul of nine gold medals, two silvers and three bronze to be crowned Caribbean Champions.

In addition, Guyana copped three of four Best Boxer titles up for grabs.

In the youth division, Terron Wintz delivered a commanding performance that earned him the title of Best Youth Boxer.

Wintz conquered St. Lucia’s Denzel Stephens in the final of the  67kg contest, forcing the referee to stop the fight two minutes and 36 seconds into the second round.

Other standout performances in the youth category included Joshua Tamberran (57kg), who won on points victory over Guadeloupe’s Noah Pakiry, and Semion Haymer (63kg), who outclassed Trinidad and Tobago’s Darnell Sinaswee to also win on points.

Among the junior competitors, Kenyon Britton (50kg) earned a hard-fought points victory over Guadeloupe’s Davino Carty.

However, Ken Harvey faced a challenging bout in the 60kg category, where he lost on points to St. Lucia’s Alex Nachan.

Ninvalle commended the young boxers for their dedication and outstanding performances, emphasising that the GBA is committed to providing exposure for emerging talent from gyms across Guyana.

He expressed particular satisfaction in seeing boxers from outside of Georgetown not only getting the opportunity to represent their country but also playing a crucial role in Guyana’s overall success at the Caribbean Championship.

Wintz, who hails from Heathburn Village, East Bank Berbice, received special recognition from Ninvalle.

The GBA president noted that the 18-year-old possesses the potential to win many more titles in the future, provided he remains focused and dedicated to his training.

Ninvalle also highlighted Kenyon Britton’s exceptional showing, stating that the 15-year-old will be instrumental in the future development of boxing in Guyana.

Overall, the GBA president voiced satisfaction with the performances of both the youth and junior boxers, attributing their success to the dedication and expertise of their coaches.

Looking ahead, Ninvalle reaffirmed the GBA’s commitment to developing young talent, noting that the association will continue to utilise the Michael Parris/Pepsi U-16 tournament as a key platform for discovering and nurturing future champions.

“The success of the boxers at the Caribbean Championship, many of whom have competed at our U-16 tournament, is proof that the Pepsi-sponsored event is a valuable breeding ground for young boxing talent in Guyana,” Ninvalle stated.

He also extended gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Guyana Olympic Association and  Demerara Distillers Limited and their Pepsi brand, among others  for their continued support of boxing development in the country.

With strong performances from its young boxers and ongoing developmental initiatives, the GBA, Ninvalle said, remains focus on nurturing talent and providing international exposure, which he pointed out, will be crucial in shaping the country’s next generation of champions.