– It’s a heavy loss to boxing – Peter Abdool
Vice-President of the World Boxing Council (WBC) Roy Van Putten passed away Wednesday at his Aruba home and the entire boxing world has hailed his death as a major blow for the sport.
Van Putten was the founder of the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) and creator of the Continental Americas Championship and Guyana’s Leon ‘Hurry-up’ Moore holds its super bantamweight title.
Aruban Van Putten who joined the WBC in 1985 handed over the battalion of the CABOFE to Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) President Peter Abdool when the organisation held its Annual General Meeting in Barbados in September 2009.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport yesterday, Abdool described Van Putten as a ‘gentleman’ and one who will be sadly missed not only by the WBC.
“It’s no secret what Roy has done for boxing, more so for boxers in the Caribbean because he is the person who made sure that Leon Moore stays in the rankings and in line for a world title. He was a true gentleman of the sport and Roy’s passing will be a heavy loss to the sport,” said Abdool.
The Guyanese who became the first person from the English-speaking Caribbean to head the prestigious WBC affiliated organisation, said that he last spoke to Van Putten on Monday and that he last “saw him at the WBC Convention in South Korea last year and I must tell you that he played a vibrant part in that convention and he has never missed one since 1985.”
“Well I know he was ailing, because I think he did a bypass surgery some time ago and was not too well like at the ending of last year. But like I said, he had gotten better and was active of course, not only in boxing because I think he was given Aruba’s highest national award for his contribution to sport in that country so, he will be missed mostly by the boxing fraternity,” Abdool said further.
Van Putten first visited Guyana on August 28, 1988 at the National Park for a card promoted by Keith Brazilo of ‘Peoples Syndicate Promotions’ and saw Guyanese Michael Benjamin gaining a unanimous decision over Ernesto Espana for the WBC Continental Americas lightweight title.
Long-standing President of the WBC, Dr. Jose Sulaimán in a release published on the council’s website, described Van Putten as one of the best boxing commissioners that he has ever known, who made a cathedral of the loyalty, the commitment, the passion and the love for boxing and for human rights and justice.
The release went on to state that the WBC will declare a day of world mourning in boxing and a posthumous homage will be offered to Van Putten at their 48th Annual World Convention to be held in Cancun, Quintana Roo, in November.
