Like most disciplines, the COVID-19 pandemic knocked amateur boxing down for a count in 2020.
But while the fistic sport was down, it was far from out and come 2021, an Olympic year, boxing is primed for a comeback season.
“The year 2020 was one of the most challenging years for amateur boxing in Guyana and in the world” said President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, when he was asked to give a review of the year.
He added that despite this year’s challenges however “boxing will be back on its feet in 2021 after a mandatory count and the action will be stepped up soon.”
Ninvalle noted that the pandemic forced the cancellation of the associations plans which included the three statutory competitions, left the four elite boxers stranded in Cuba for four months following a three-month training stint and severely impacted the finances of the association.
“It is the first time that I can remember that we did not have a National Open, a National Novices or a National Intermediate competition,” he said.
“So if you ask me, it has been an extremely challenging year, an extremely revealing year. Revealing in the sense that it showed how deep we can dig as an executive and as an association,” he added.
While stating that a personal challenge for him was resigning as the Chairman of the Caribbean Boxing Association, Ninvalle noted that there were some positives within the year of endless adversities.
He singled out the experience the four elite boxers, Keevin Allicock, Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam and Dennis Thomas garnered while in Cuba on a three-month training stint prior to the Olympic Qualifiers and the election of new president of AIBA, Umar Kremlev.
“Our boxers were able to complete their three-month training stint in Cuba even though they did not get a chance to compete at the Olympic Qualifiers, I think what they would have learned in Cuba would be something that would take them through their entire lives.”
Ninvalle added “Another big plus for me in boxing was the election of Umar Kremlev as the President of AIBA. I think that Mr. Kremlev has all that it takes to bring boxing back on the right footing and to make sure our relationship with the IOC is back to some level of normalcy.”
While the pugilists were forced to hang up their gloves due to the pandemic, officials were not sitting on their laurels.
“The referees and coaches were exposed to high level virtual seminars hosted by Ray Silvas who is the Chairman of the Referees and Judges Commission.”
Allicock becoming a recipient of an Olympic Solidarity Athlete Scholarship from the IOC was also a highlight for the local boxing fraternity.
A closer relationship with the Ministry of Sport and the subject Minister, Charles Ramson Jr., was also cited as a plus.
“The level of interaction and correspondence and the promptness of the responses as it relates to the correspondence was much more timely than the previous administration and we welcome that. We are happy that we have a government and a minister who understands what has to be done and I am very confident that with the support of Minister Ramson, not only boxing, but all sports across Guyana, will see a meteoric rise as it relates to development.”
Ninvalle concluded by thanking every supporter that stood in the corner of the discipline and then revealed that the immediate plans for 2021 is to ensure “that we have our elite boxers focused and training for the Qualifiers.”
The Olympic Qualifiers is scheduled for May in Argentina.
