With the drama of the Pan Am Qualifiers behind him, Keevin Allicock has now shifted his focus to the Pan Am Games and the boxer is hoping that the powers-that-be pull out all the stops to enable local athletes to climb the podium steps.
Allicock told Stabroek Sport yesterday that personally he would like to train and spar with a higher level of competition, perhaps in Cuba ahead of the Games which will be hosted in Lima, Peru from July 26 to August 11th.
“There is a lot of extra work to be put in,” said the 19-year old. “The feeling is good that I qualified for the Games but I want to come back with a medal so I want to be prepared as best as possible.”
Allicock added “ I can’t get to spar with the level of competition that I want, I feel that if we can get to train and spar in places like Cuba ahead of the big events, that will be great preparation.”
Cuba has a reputation of traditionally producing some of the world’s best amateur boxers.
Francisco Roldan, a Cuban coach, returned to Guyana for his second stint in mid-February to work along with the local boxers but only Allicock (after protests) qualified for the Games, as Colin Lewis (light welterweight) and Desmond Amsterdam (light heavyweight) were defeated in their opening bouts at the Qualifiers which was held in Nicaragua.
While in Nicaragua, Allicock was inexplicably denied to engage in his quarterfinal bout versus Alexy De Le Cruz (Dominican Republic) on Monday.
He was scheduled to box out of the red corner, was attired in a red and black vest one hour after he was inspected and given clearance by the International Technical Officer (ITO).
“Mr. Allicock was also allowed into the ring by the referee who saw nothing wrong with his attire. However, the supervisor intervened just before the start of the fight with the claim.”
President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle stated that Allicock was given one minute (60 seconds) to leave the ring, go to the changing room and return ‘properly attired’.
However, upon his return it was deemed that he lost by walk over.
Ninvalle disclosed that a protest was immediately filed but the supervisor remained steadfast and unflinching. The new rules of AIBA 48.3.4 state that a boxer can compete in his national colours.
“Red and black are colours of our national flag” said Ninvalle who added. “The Guyana Boxing Association found the ruling of the supervisor as unjust, unreasonable, unsportsmanlike, excessive, and unwarranted and that which goes against the grain of what the new AIBA is promoting.
After a series of emails of protests, Ninvalle said he received a favorable response and Guyana will have a boxer competing for medals in Peru.
Said Allicock “We haven’t had a boxer qualifying for the Pan Am Games for quite some time but medaling at the Games is the big focus now and I want to do well.”
At the Games, Guyana will be represented in the disciplines of badminton, boxing, rugby, squash and taekwondo.
