When boxers Keevin Allicock and Desmond Amsterdam step in the ring this evening, they will be fighting for chances to medal and cement their places in history at these ongoing XX11 Commonwealth Games here in Birmingham, England.
The star duo will be in quarterfinal action against their respective opponents with semi-final berths at the forefront of their minds.
Brimming with confidence and fresh off two convincing wins at the Games so far, the orthodox featherweight, Allicock, will face his sternest test in the form of Canada’s Keoma Ali Al Ahmadieh. Their bout is scheduled for 19:10 hours UK time.
Amsterdam also has a win under his belt at these Games and will be aiming to replicate his ring exploits this evening at 21:00 hours against Australia’s Callum Peters in their middleweight matchup.
When Stabroek Sport spoke with Amsterdam yesterday, he stated that like Allicock, he is up for the challenge.
“I have what it takes, I just have to go out there and do my best and put on my ‘A’ game” asserted Sergeant Amsterdam, who earned a bronze medal at the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Championships in Ecuador in April.
Amsterdam further acknowledged that it would “be great” to add Commonwealth Games medalist to his boxing resume.
“It will be great to come at my first Commonwealth Games to medal. This is something that I have been waiting for quite a long time. I am confident that I will go in there and come out with the win.”
Should the victories be earned this evening, the two pugilists will end the 32-year boxing medal drought at these quadrennial Games and forever place their names in the annals of history as Commonwealth Games podium dwellers.
Wesley Christmas boxed his way to Guyana’s last medal, a bronze in 1990 when the 14th edition of the Games was staged in Auckland, New Zealand.
