By Tiadi Blair
Amateur boxers Aubrey Moore and Clive Atwell will depart Guyana today for Italy to participate at the World Championships which will take place from August 27 to September 13.
Prior to the World Championships the two boxers will also attend a training camp organised by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) from August 11-26 in Assisi, Italy.
Speaking with Stabroek Sports yesterday the two boxers expressed their joy at being given an opportunity to represent Guyana at the World Championships.
The boxers said it should be a wonderful experience to match fists with some of the world’s top amateur fighters.
It will be Atwell, who is considered one of Guyana’s top amateur fighters, second outing at the championships.
He was a member of the Guyana team that participated at the Chicago, USA World Championships in 2007.
He told Stabroek Sports that he was looking forward to the tournament this year and the training camp since it would enhance his skills in the sport.
“From the two weeks training programme, I’m expecting to enhance my skills and be acquainted with some of the tactics and skills the boxers and officials use in the international world and I will try to apply them to be successful in this year’s championships,” said Atwell.
Moore on the other hand is hoping to improve on his natural ability.
“I will try my best to do what it takes to win, that is performing to the highest extent and I expect to improve my skills and do much better in the tournament.”
However, the two fighters will have to do battle on their own since national coach Clifton Moore will not be accompanying them.
Moore told Stabroek Sport that he was thrilled at what he described as a good selection of boxers to represent Guyana at the training programme and championships.
“I’m feeling great because we have two of the best boxers going there and I think that we have a very good chance and they will give the best of themselves, they wouldn’t give anything short,” said the national coach.
He also noted that challenges will be encountered since the refereeing system on the international front differs from that which takes place in local boxing rings.
He says the current way of refereeing is not what it ought to be in Guyana.
“The only setback against our boxers is that the refereeing is different from what we know here. We have what you call textbook refereeing in Guyana but it doesn’t happen like that over there, a lot of infringement or things that we regard as infringements are allowed,” said Moore.
In July it was uncertain whether the boxers would have attended since financing the trip was a problem.
The hurdle was overcome after President of GABA Affeeze Khan made contact with AIBA who were able to cover the cost of the airfare, the two-week duration at the training camp and coverage of hotel and meals for the entire period.
Khan yesterday told Stabroek Sports that a new training programme has been implemented by AIBA which made it possible for both boxers to be present.
Some 18 boxers and five coaches were drawn from Caribbean territories except Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic to participate in the training camp which is part of a drive by AIBA for countries unable to prepare boxers prior to such big events as the World Championships.
The programme is referred to as the “Road to Milan” programme.
