The inaugural Junior Pan Am Games in Cali, Colombia is right around the corner and the boxers competing at the event are currently hard at work in training camp under the watchful eye of Coach, Sebert Blake.
Yesterday, Stabroek Sport visited the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Gym where the fighters had their gloves and their head gear on going through a brutal workout ahead of the November 25 to December 6 spectacle.
Travis Inverary, Patrick Harvey and Alisha Jackman are the pugilists set to represent Guyana at the fixture.
Blake who has the highest grading for an AIBA coach, stated that his charges are religiously training six days a week, once on Sunday and twice Mondays to Fridays with training sessions at the GDF and Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis’ Gym. Quizzed on how the boxers are looking so far on a scale from 1-10, Blake said the following:
“For me, they are at an eight. There’s a lot more work to be done. They are basically going to compete with just sparring and training and their nutrition before the camp was not that ideal. Also, they haven’t been exposed to much competition due to the pandemic.”
Blake added that their cardiovascular endurance, timing and their nutrition are areas that he will be looking to improve on in the coming weeks.
Last month, President of the Guyana Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle along with President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), K Juman-Yassin told the media that the trio will be “afforded the services of a nutritionist, a psychologist, a physiotherapist and every single thing that is needed,” in order to make their preparation a success ahead of the event.
Blake stated that “This is a good start for now, but I would like to see it become a regular feature and not just close to competitions.”
Further, it was also announced that the boxers will receive $100,000 each from the GOA.
