The Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) could be dethroned without throwing a punch if the association is unable to send a full complement of boxers to the upcoming Caribbean Amateur Boxing championships in Trinidad and Tobago.
So said GABA president Steve Ninvalle who, in a press release yesterday, said that his association was having mixed feeling about participating in the December 4-9 championships following the decision by the government to give the association only half-a-million of the three million dollars needed.
“The Guyana Amateur Boxing Association is now ambivalent about participating in the Caribbean Championships after government came short on support for the team of 20,” a release from the association stated.
Ninvalle, who said that he was disappointed with the government’s response, reasoned that the support amounted to funding for a mere two-and-one-half boxers.
“To say the entire boxing fraternity is disappointed would be a blatant understatement. Air travel to Trinidad and accommodation is $100,000 per person. That $500,000 can only take care of two-and-one-half boxers, he explained.
“We have to send at least 16 boxers if we are to stand a chance of retaining our Caribbean title we worked so hard to earn last year.
“As it is right now Guyana make not make it to Trinidad,” said Ninvallle.
Long a regional boxing powerhouse, Guyana, has won the senior Caribbean title twice since 2016.
They were forced to relinquish the title in 2017 after insufficient funds forced GABA to send a team of only four to St Lucia.
The association had already named 20 boxers for this year’s tournament led by Caribbean champions, middleweight Desmond Amsterdam and bantamweight Keevin Allicock.
Also included are the talented Jackman sisters Abiola and Alesha, the release stated. Some 20 countries including for Spanish speaking countries are set to participate in the championships which will be held at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Pleasantville, San Fernando.
Those countries are Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Speaking at a launch of the championships recently Cecil Forde president of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association said that the participation of the Spanish speaking countries would make the championships so much tougher.
“What will make this tournament unique in December is that we are going to have the Spanish speaking Caribbean here taking part for the first time. The Caribbean Championships is no longer beating up on Barbados and Guyana. We are talking about Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico so we are now projecting a proper Caribbean Championships.”
