The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has decided to honour former amateur boxing standout, Winfield Braithwaite by renaming the Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Tournament after him.
This is according to President of the association, Steve Ninvalle.
“This is to pay homage and give credit to what Winfield Braithwaite has done for the sport, specifically amateur boxing” said Ninvalle.
He added “Winfield Braithwaite won a gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada and I think the only other person that would have passed him as an amateur would be Mike Parris who would have won an Olympic bronze medal, so going with the trend of giving these boxers their credit while they’re still alive, we will be renaming the tournament after him.”
The GBA has named most of their tournaments after renowned boxers namely Andrew Lewis (National Novices), Mike Parris (U-16) Lennox Blackmoore (National Intermediate) and Terrence Ali (National Open).
Added Ninvalle “Some would have not reached their pinnacle as an amateur but in the professional rank so we just see it as right to give Winfield what is due to him as he has done a lot for boxing and this country.
It is fitting that we name this tournament after the person who has won our only Commonwealth Gold medal in boxing” Ninvalle concluded.
Notes: Braithwaite, a retired pugilist who represented the nation at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, won the gold medal in the light-welterweight division. He defeated Alec Leatherday of Australia, Baba Sumaila of Ghana, Michael Mwangi of Kenya and finally, James Douglas of Scotland in the final by knockout in the first round. It was the first gold medal won by a Guyanese athlete at the Commonwealth Games since runner Phil Edwards won the 880 yards in 1934.
