By Donald Duff
Peter Abdool has huge boots to fill but the dynamic Guyanese businessman is up to the task.
Elected president of the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE), an arm of the World Boxing Council (WBC), at the body’s annual general meeting in Barbados on Thursday, Abdool in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday, declared that his first priority was to unite Caribbean boxing.
Though no easy task Abdool knows that he has the support of the Caribbean since Guyana is considered the standard bearer for professional boxing in the English-speaking Caribbean.
Abdool was elected to replace Roy Van Putten at the organisation’s meeting in Barbados last week.
Other members of the executive are Barbadian James. F. Marshall, who was elected the first vice-president, George Shepherd (also of Barbados) who was elected secretary and Erno Labega who was elected treasurer.
Labega is a member of parliament in St. Maarten and a vice-president of the St. Maarten Boxing Board, Abdool disclosed.
Yesterday, Abdool heaped praises on Van Putten for his role in the development of CABOFE and Caribbean boxing.
“Van Putten was the man who started CABOFE in the first place. He has a deep seated and profound desire to see Caribbean fighters move forward and CABOFE was set up for exactly that purpose,” says Abdool.
”He has been a friend to Guyana. Van Putten has more or less allowed people like Leon Moore to hold onto their titles when they could easily have lost it by not defending it in the time frame allotted.
“I cannot speak highly enough of this man and what he has done for the sport in the Caribbean,” Abdool added.
“Roy is close to Jose Sulaiman. He is a member of the WBC Continental of Americas championship committee and he is also a member of the WBC Central Committee. His contribution to boxing worldwide and to the WBC has been sterling over many, many years.
“Suddenly he has made a decision to step down from the presidency of CABOFE and concentrate his efforts elsewhere.
“He felt that CABOFE could be more vibrant than it currently is.”
CARIBBEAN IDENTITY
The World Boxing Council (WBC) is one of the most highly regarded of all the rating bodies in the world, says Abdool adding that the WBC, shares that accolade with the World Boxing Association (WBA).
“The Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) was created as an autonomous body in service to the WBC.
“We needed an identity in the Caribbean, a vehicle, which would allow our boxers to be rated,” said Abdool said of the formation of CABOFE.
“CABOFE allows our boxers access to the world stage.”
Abdool said there are three levels a Caribbean boxer must attain in an effort to reach the pinnacle of the sport quickly.
He must first win a CABOFE title, then a WBC Continental of Americas title and finally a WBC International title.
A CABOFE title win can see the boxer getting a world ranking said Abdool, who pointed out that ratings can go as deep as number 40 in the world.
After CABOFE you have the WBC Continental of Americas championships.
Evander Holyfield, Iran Barkley, James `Buddy’ Mc Girt, Jermain Taylor, Julian Jackson, Kassim Ouma Livingston Bramble, Roger Mayweather, Virgil Hill and Roy Jones Jr. are some of the great WBC Continental of Americas champions.
“Leon Moore is now going to fight for the Continental of Americas championships,” said Abdool.
“Once you arrive at a point where you have won the WBC Continental of Americas championships you don’t need CABOFE anymore, “he declared.
The WBC Continental of Americas (COA) championship was created in Bankok, Thailand in 1985 with the intention of creating a championship for fighters from the continent of America to compete and prepare themselves for their eventual world title fights.
Above the COA lies the WBC International Championship.
This category was created the following year at the WBC Convention in Aruba.
Like the COA, there are a number of great fighters such as Chris Eubank, Clinton Woods, Erik Morales, Ike Quartey, John Ruiz and Manny Pacquiao who have won International Championship titles.
Wayne Braithwaite is the only Guyanese boxer among this illustrious company.
“When you reach here the world champion cannot deny you a title shot,” said Abdool.
CABOFE MEETING
“We were invited to the CABOFE AGM which was not held for sometime. The meeting was held in Barbados and hosted by the Barbados government which incidentally, controls boxing on the island.
“For the first time I sat in the room with the other presidents of Caribbean countries and was amazed at the respect that was given to Guyana.
“I was stunned!
“We are almost revered by the English-speaking Caribbean.
Abdool said this respect was in large measure to Guyanese boxers who fight the length and breadth of the region.
“They carry with them the mystique that there are very difficult to beat,” he said.
It is also a testimony to our past success at the amateur level where we have oftentimes been crowned Caribbean champions and the number of Guyanese boxers who have fought for or won world titles.
“The reputation that Jamaica’s athletes walk around with Guyana’s boxers walk around with.
“We are considered the flag carrier,” Abdool said succinctly.
CARIBBEAN BOXERS TO TRAIN IN GUYANA
At the meeting Abdool was able to sit and discus…”the commonalities of Caribbean boxing, the common difficulties, the common threats.”
He also felt the frustrations.
“I made a promise long before the elections to help them (other islands) with their programmes,” he said.
“Prior to the elections I had already told them that Guyana would do everything in their power to help them,” said Abdool.
“The Director of Sport in Barbados at the opening ceremony said that he was prepared and still wanted to see all Caribbean fighters train in Guyana just as he would like to see all Caribbean runners train in Jamaica,” said Abdool adding that he promised the Director of Sport that he will raise the matter with the Guyana government.
ELECTIONS
“I was nominated and won the post as the new president of CABOFE after Van Putten’s decision to step down.
“My first priority is to unite Caribbean boxing. It may very well give me a chance to bring all the boards of the Caribbean to some level of proficiency and all boxers to a point where they have an opportunity under CABOFE to get into the world rankings.”
And, speaking of rankings the new CABOFE president said he had an opportunity to see the CABOFE rankings where seven vacant and challengeable titles that Guyanese boxers can fight for.
“Immediately the boxers that came to mind were Iwan Azore, Dexter Marques, Elton Dharry and Lennox Allen.”
Abdool said a number of other Guyanese fighters will also have an opportunity under CABOFE to launch themselves on to the WBC world ranking lists.
But Abdool’s vision for Caribbean boxing does not stop there.
He plans to set up a structure which will lead to easy sharing of coaches and knowledge which should result in even more Caribbean boxers on the world stage.
PROUD MAN
In becoming the first person from the English speaking Caribbean to hold the post of president of CABOFE, Abdool yesterday declared himself a proud man.
“I’m proud that besides the presidency itself, we will now have a seat on the WBC Supreme Council.”
Having a seat on the WBC Supreme Council allows this region to be represented at WBC Conventions.
One such convention is scheduled for Cheju, South Korea on October 29.
Presidents of affiliates of the WBC on entering the convention centre where the congress will be held must be preceded by the flag of their respective countries.
In this case that flag will be the Golden Arrowhead.
“That will make me extremely proud. It means that our flag will fly at the WBC convention. I am gratified by that!”
Though elated, Abdool is cognizant of the fact that he could not have been elected president were it not for the assistance of Andrew Thorne, who accompanied him to Barbados and former secretary of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Trevor Arno.
He also lauded boxing stalwarts Francis Abraham and Bernard Dos Santos as well as Eion Jardine whom he described as one of the most respected referee/judges in the Caribbean.
He also spoke of the efforts of his own board which has led to the views that professional boxing in Guyana is progressing exceptionally well especially with another high profile card dubbed “Caribbean Fury,” taking place this weekend.
“I did not know that so many people are taking notice of what goes on in Guyana. We are not only well respected for the prowess of our boxers but for our administration of the sport as well,” he ended.
