GBA Secretary: Boxers eager to showcase skills at National Championship

Guyana’s premier amateur boxing talent will be on full display from today (December 19) as the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) National Championship gets underway at the National Gymnasium, promising three days of intense, high-quality competition among the country’s leading gyms.

The championship, which serves as the GBA’s final statutory competition for the year, has generated significant excitement within the local boxing fraternity.

Boxers will feature in the weigh-in from today, setting the tone for fistic fury from Saturday evening.

Secretary of the GBA, Stacy Correia, said the Association is pleased with the level of interest and enthusiasm shown by boxing gyms across Guyana, describing the response as a strong indicator of the sport’s continued growth.

“We are extremely excited with the feedback and enthusiasm shown by the gyms around Guyana. It tells us that the work being done throughout the year is paying off, and that our boxers and coaches are eager to test themselves at the national level,” Correia stated.

She also highlighted the return of Guyana’s Three-Star boxing coach, Sebert Blake, who has come back to the country specifically to prepare the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym in Albouystown for the championship.

According to Correia, Blake’s involvement underscores the importance of the tournament and the seriousness with which gyms are approaching the competition.

Correia noted that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will enter the championship as the most targeted gym, having already established themselves as the dominant force in local amateur boxing.

“The GDF are the reigning champions of the National Open, as well as the National Novice and National Intermediate competitions, which makes them the most targeted gym in this tournament,” she said.

In addition to the GDF, several other well-established gyms are expected to compete, including the Guyana Police Force, Andrew ‘Six-Head’ Lewis Boxing Gym, the New Amsterdam Boxing Academy, Rose Hall Jammers, Pace and Power Gym, and Harpy Eagles.

According to the GBA Secretary, their participation is expected to add depth and competitiveness across multiple weight categories.

Correia further pointed out that the GBA has successfully covered all of its statutory competitions for the year, while also hosting a record number of Under-16 tournaments in 2025, adding, “this is our closing competition for the year, and we expect to hit the ground running in 2026.”

“We are looking forward to seeing the competition unfold, and we want to thank all the gyms for showing support and backing our initiatives throughout 2025,” Correia added.