By Eion Jardine
As early as the 19th century the British Guiana Boxing Committee (BGBC) which ran the sport of boxing formed a board to name the association.
They came up with the British Guiana Boxing Control.
It remained so until January 31, 1933. Then on February 22, 1933 (the day, not the year in which I was born) it was renamed the British Guiana Boxing Board of Control with rules revised along modern up to date lines.
Among the most important changes in the rules was provision for the appointment of an honorary advisory council consisting of the hons. C. Douglas-Jones, CMG Hector-Joseph, KC and CMG Fredericks, the honourable F.J.J.F. Mc Dougal, G.R Reid, C. Whitney and H.G. Seaford.
Objectives
of the Board
The objectives of the board had been revised as follows:
(a) To establish boxing within the colony as a sport and to promote, encourage, assist and co-operate with others in promoting boxing contests within the colony.
(b) To control all boxing contests within the colony to which an admission fee is charged and to frame definitions and make rules that will ensure the general public of fair, clean and healthy contests.
(c) To adjust, arrange, decide and settle all disputes or differences that may arise in connection with boxing contest and to act as a board of appeal.
(d) To organize, create, arrange and distribute such charities, benevolent funds or other benefits as the board may consider desirable in the interests of boxers and as funds available permit.
(e) Generally to perform such acts and render such help and assistance as may be considered advisable for safeguarding the interest of boxers and improving the standard of boxing within the colony. The rules provide for the annual registration of boxers who will pay a fee of one dollar for registration and fifty cents a year for renewal. There are also rules for the control of promoters, boxers and seconds. The duties of the officials are clearly defined.
Duties of the
referees and judges
The rules governing contests have also been remodeled along modern lines. The duties of the referees and judges are clearly defined. The referee is given power to impose a penalty not exceeding $10, or to disqualify contestants who commit a deliberate and willful foul or a second unintentional foul which has caused injury and award the decision to his opponent.
When a referee stops a contest or disqualifies a contestant who has committed a foul, he shall, if called upon, forthwith report in writing to the board his reasons for stopping the contest and the nature of the foul committed.
The duties of the judges and the basis on which they should award points in contests are set out very clearly.
It is in the interests of both boxers and promoters that they should study the new rules, copies of which can be obtained from the secretary at a cost of a shilling each.
The first boxing card to be promoted after the renaming of the board took place on May 4, 1933 at the BGFA ground. Guyana’s Lionel Gibbs defeated American Frankie O’ Bean over 10 rounds for the welterweight championship of the West Indies. The purses were five hundred dollars for the winner and three hundred dollars for the loser. The promoters were L. Joaquin; the referee was Mr. E. Gonsalves and judges Mr. J. T. Manly and Mr. S. Rohoman. Also Mr. B. S. Ducker of the Education Department was appointed a member of the board.
Five years after the renaming of the board, the GBBC, held its first tournament at the BGFA ground on May 12, 1938. The main bouts were between B. Semple and Tiger Lilly in which Lilly won and the main supporting bout was between T. Clarke and R. Jordan in which Clarke won.
Since that card the GBBC has promoted 12 cards. On May 26, 1966 Guyana gained independence and the board renamed on February 16, 1967 the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) and it remains at that name until now.
Some of the past presidents of the GBBC were: Mr. C. P. Widdup 1928
Mr. A.G Seaford 1932
Mr. J. Mullin 1937
Mr. B. R. Wood 1940
Mr. P. W. King 1947
Mr. Eddie Gonsalves 1950
Mr. Leon Williams 1965
Mr. Harold Martin 1970
Mr. Cecil Martindale 1980
Mr. Frederick Ramprashad 1987, 1998
Mr. K. D. Persaud 1998, 2006
Mr. Peter Abdool 2007 to present