Boxers, present and past, replaced their fight apparel and donned tailor-made suits, elegant dresses and matching accessories on Friday evening at the Georgetown Club when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control held its first ever awards ceremony.
The auspicious occasion also highlighted the accolades and recognition that the fistic sport has brought Guyana.
There was none of the bullish thrash talking affair normally associated with the sport but rather a nostalgic experience set in a celebratory atmosphere.
The sport’s past stalwarts and today’s most recognisable faces were honoured – from Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, Guyana’s first world champion, to Keith ‘Buckilo’ Bazilio and Maurice ‘Bizzy’ Boyce, for their outstanding service and development to the fight game.
And all honourees were gracious for the awards bestowed on them.
Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Bantamweight champion and local Sportswoman-of-the-Year Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred, shaking off the effects of a minor vehicular accident, was named the Fighter-of-the-Year while Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore, Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA) super bantamweight, Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) super bantamweight and North American Boxing Association (NABA) bantamweight champion, was the winner in the male category.
The two fighters gained the nod of the selection committee because of their dominant performances internationally. Alfred retained her bantamweight title with a stunning fourth round knockout of Canadian Corinne ‘Sexy Panther’ De Groot in June last year. The petite Alfred followed up that performance with a majority points decision victory over Colombian Olga Julio.
Despite a controversial decision against Venezuelan Breilor Teran last November, Moore earlier in the year shook off injury to secure a unanimous verdict from the judges over Marangin Marbun for the PABA super bantamweight title in Singapore.
Other honourees were Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’ Neil (Guyana first female world champion), Eion Jardine, Aubrey Henry, Carwyn Holland (Promoter of the first world title fight in Guyana), Sebert Blake, Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman, Thresea London (Best Female Amateur), Bert Braithwaite (Best Male Amateur), Nankumar Singh (Most Exciting Amateur), Lennox Daniels (Best Professional Trainer), Terrence Poole (Best Amateur Coach/Coordinator), Forgotten Youth Foundation (Best Gym), Debbie ‘America Street’ Tyson vs. Pauline London (Best Female Fight of the year), Iwan Azore vs. Troy Lewis (Best Male fight of the year), Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy (Fastest KO- 20 seconds), Leon ‘The Lion’ Gilkes (Most Exciting male boxer), Mandessa Moses (Most Exciting female boxer), Mark Austin (Most Improved boxer) and Michael Benjamin (Journalist of the Year).
The sponsors were also honoured at the event.
Meanwhile, Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony said that it was amazing that sport associations find the time to recognise the contributions of athletes attached to them. He also lauded the officials and administrators for ensuring that the sport is kept alive.
“It is an excellent thing when an association can recognise and reward the respective members and persons deserving of these awards,” he emphasised.
He also congratulated the awardees and also reminded the audience of Guyana’s rich boxing legacy. He made specific reference to Michael Paris’ achievement of winning Guyana’s only Olympic medal while also praising the great professional boxers and eight world champions who have emerged from these shores.
Anthony, with an air of optimism, said that boxing is once again on the rise in Guyana and he is positive that it has not reached its crescendo. He indicated that this upsurge is due to the assiduous work of the GBBC and the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA).
The two bodies, along with the Sport Ministry and National Communication Network (NCN), joined forces last year to host the monthly Pro-Am cards.
The brainchild of Peter Abdool, president of the GBBC, followed observations that the professional fighters were not very active and their records were not very flattering.
On the other hand, amateur boxing had been at a virtual standstill. And with its resurgence, Anthony was pleased. “We are going places, we are being recognised and I feel that the Board must take a decision to establish a presence on the web because through that front I think that the world will be able to see the wonderful work we are doing in Guyana,” Anthony recommended.
He added, “That tradition we spoke about we have to build a foundation, maybe from amateur boxing, and then those boxers can move on to professional boxing.”
Anthony stated that his ministry has worked with the GABA and will continue to lend its support to ensure that the sport moves in the intended direction. He stated that the ministry has donated equipment for the boxers and every gym in the country has also been beneficiaries of that ministry’s largesse.
Abdool indicated last night that while the GBBC has always been aware of Guyana’s rich boxing heritage it had never endeavoured to honour the boxers but he promised that this will be the first of many such events.
He noted that the GBBC feels proud of what the Friday Night Fights have done for the boxers’ development and this will improve in the new year. He said that $4M to $5M had been plugged into the sport last year and there will also be more injections in the sport. He highlighted also that the GBBC has been able to donate to the amateur component and this will augur well for its holistic development.
