The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Junior Hyman took home the marquee accolades when the final bell of the Andrew Lewis National Novices Championships chimed on Sunday night at the National Gymnasium.
After three nights of fistic fury, Hyman, of the Vergenoegen Boxing Gym, was awarded the coveted best boxer award while GDF snared the best gym trophy once again as the event returned to its familiar stomping ground following a two-year absence due to the pandemic.
Fighting in the junior welterweight division, Hyman was in demolition mode over the weekend, stopping both of his opponents. First on Saturday night, the slick orthodox puncher turned back the challenge of Nadir Walker, making light work of his GDF foe in the first round.
Hyman returned to the ring on the final night and picked up right where he left off, once again forcing the referee to put a stop to GDF’s Christopher Cummings’ night in the opening round.
His heroics however, were not enough to stop the reign of the GDF gym as their pugilists racked up most of the wins during the championship to retain their club trophy.
GDF finished with 16 points while the runners-up trophy went jointly to Police and Republican with five points apiece.
GDF’s Terrence Poole was subsequently awarded the best coach accolade while Denoila Bristol earned the best referee award.
The championships featured a total 32 bouts including exhibitions, in excess of 50 boxers and seven gyms competing for trophies and bragging rights and was hailed a success after achieving its objective.
Named after Guyana’s first world boxing champion, the fixture is seen as an avenue for spotting and harnessing the talent of the young boxers who could potentially become future world champions.
