Guyana’s chances of being represented at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in the fistic sport will be decided this weekend in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Desmond Amsterdam and Dennis Thomas are set to spring into action today and tomorrow respectively in their first Olympic Qualifier matches.
The light heavyweight Amsterdam will face Juan Carlos Carrillo in the eighth fight of the second session today while Thomas (middleweight) will be in action against Puerto Rican, Jose Luis Rodriguez tomorrow.
A victory for Thomas would see him clinching a berth in the quarter finals.
According to president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, there are 21 boxers in Thomas’ division while there are 14 in the light heavyweight category.
Said Ninvalle yesterday: “We don’t know the quality of opponents and while coach, Sebert Blake stated that the team spirit is high, we just have to hope that we can come out with what will best suit Guyana. Hopefully we might be able to break the 20 year jinx,” Ninvalle added.
Thomas and Amsterdam will have the herculean task of breaking the 20-year drought of Guyanese boxers competing at the prestigious Games. John Douglas was the last when he donned the colors of the Golden Arrowhead at the 1996 Games which were hosted by the city of Atlanta, Georgia.