St. Lucia has joined Jamaica in confirming their participation in the International Goodwill amateur boxing competition here next month.
According to president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, a six-member team comprising three pugilists and three officials will be part of the competition set for February 14 to 16 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The boxers are Linden Micillen (light welterweight), Ron Bastiam (light middleweight) and Arthur Mangillur (super middleweight).
President of the St Lucia Boxing Association, David ‘Shakes’ Christopher, Brian McDonald (Manager) and Conrad Fredericks (Head Coach) are the officials.
The contingent is scheduled to arrive February 13 and depart four days later.
Jamaica’s team is made up of four boxers and two coaches.
“The Head Coach is Carl Grant while the co-coach is Godfrey Collins,” Ninvalle revealed.
Patrick Sahadeo (lightweight), Anthony Clarke (light welterweight), Kestna Davis (welterweight) and Michael Gardner (middleweight) are the pugilists that will be in action.
That team is scheduled to arrive on February 14 and depart the same day as the St. Lucians.
“We have sent out invitations to Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados but Barbados has indicated that they will not be able to attend this competition since they have two competitions around the same time,” the GBA president said.
“We are waiting official word from Trinidad but regardless, the competition will be going on and serve as preparation for our boxers that will compete at the South American Championships in March in Chile,” he added.
The GBA has selected a squad of boxers who have already started training and encampment will follow soon.
“For this International Goodwill Competition, the GOA has played their part in making this a reality and I thank them for that and by tomorrow (today) we should know exactly how many countries will be participating.”
Twenty four local boxers have commenced training for the February tournament, the South American Championships and the World Youth Championships in Bulgaria. They are: Imran Khan and Dennis Thomas of the Guyana Police Force Gym. Clairmont Gibson, Eon Bancroft, Bert Braithwaite, Desmond Amsterdam, Trevon King, Ron Smith, Omar Charles, Mark Marshall, Markember Pierre of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gym.
Stephan Chan, Dawani Lampkin, Junior Henry and Septon Barton of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) Gym. Stephan Gouveia and Orin Bancroft of the Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym. Stephan Nedd, Anandram Dharamraj and Jason Barker of Republican Gym and Michael April and Travis Fraser of Tiger Eye Gym
The females shortlisted are Dwon Thompson (GDF) and Theresa London (FYF).
The Simon Pures will be under the watchful eyes of Poole, Sebert Blake, Wincel Thomas and Cuban coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldan.
