PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Government officials have imposed a six-month suspension on professional bouts in the two-island republic, as they seek to iron out some serious issues outside of the ring.
The break will take effect from December 27, following a card on Boxing Day in Tobago.
This follows the instalment of a new Trinidad & Tobago Boxing Board this week by Minister of Sport Anil Roberts.
Officials of the Ministry of Sport will conduct an audit of the Boxing Board, after Roberts revoked the appointment of four members of the previous administration and appointed a new set of board members with attorney-at-law Annabelle Davis as chairperson.
Meantime, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport Ashwin Creed refuted allegations brought against him and the ministry by former T&TBB member Ricardo Phillip in a letter to the Integrity Commission, as “unfounded”.
Creed said at a media conference on Monday that no money was or will be given to Unified Promoters’ Boxing Association for a Boxing Day card.
Phillip said Special Adviser to the Minister Boxu Potts might be in an unfair position to influence Government financial grants to his son Giovanni Potts, who is one of the country’s major promoters.
Giovanni Potts runs Unified Boxing Promoters which was founded by his father.