Guyana’s boxing drought at the Olympic Games continues.
The nation’s chances of punching tickets to the 2016 Olympic Games went out the window this past weekend when Desmond Amsterdam and Dennis Thomas lost their respective bouts at the American Boxing Confederation’s (AMBC) Olympic Qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
On Saturday, Amsterdam, lost via the KO rout in the first round versus Colombia’s Juan Carlos Carrillo in the 81kg division.
Then on Sunday, Thomas, fighting in the 75kg division lost 3-0 on the score cards against Puerto Rican, Jose Luis Rodriguez.
With L’s added to Amsterdam’s and Thomas’ records, this year marks 20 years since Guyana was last represented at an Olympics Games in the fistic sport.
Notes: John Douglas was the last boxer when he donned the colors of the Golden Arrowhead at the 1996 Games which were hosted by the city of Atlanta, Georgia.
The ongoing tournament will grant 30 tickets for Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, a total of 25 for men and five for women. Some 250 boxers are participating in the regional qualifier.
The first three ways to qualify for Rio 2016 were the 5th World Series of Boxing held in March 2015 (17 tickets), the Doha World Championship held in October 2015 (23) and AIBA (International Boxing Association) Pro Boxing held in September 2015 (20) for men.
In Buenos Aires, the top three in each group will be given the tickets for Rio. (Emmerson Campbell)
