Caribbean and African nations could soon find themselves punching with power equal to the more developed countries as the International Boxing Association (AIBA) is ready to lend a helping hand by offering scholarships to deserving pugilists of their lesser developed affiliates.
This is according to Guyana’s Steve Ninvalle, Executive Committee member of AIBA who attended the body’s four-day Congress which concluded yesterday in Doha, Qatar.
Ninvalle who was the Caribbean’s voice at the Congress, told this publication yesterday that “AIBA will offer one-year scholarships to boxers in developing countries to their academy in Kazakhstan.”
The information was relayed during a discussion he had with president of AIBA, Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu relating to assistance for the Caribbean.
According to Ninvalle who is also the president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), the scholarships will be a boon for regional fighters.
“It is good because our fighters will get to be on par with the top fighters in the world, they will also be exposed to some of the best trainers in the world. So that is one good thing that has come out of this Congress, they are many other things I will touch on later.”
Note: In 2013 local boxers, Imran Khan and Dennis Thomas attended AIBA’s academy and also competed at the World Boxing Championships.
Meanwhile, Ninvalle’s status was elevated when he received his AIBA tie on Wednesday. Receiving the tie, is the equivalent of a West Indian cricketer winning his/her first maroon cap.
Ninvalle is scheduled to return on Tuesday morning. (Emmerson Campbell)
