Members of the Albouystown-based Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) Gym took their talents to Rose Hall Town Saturday night and returned to their base with the marquee titles of the GBA’s Youth and Junior Championships.
Staged under the floodlights of the Rose Hall Municipality Ground, the FYF team shone the brightest, winning the coveted trophies for Best Boxer, Best Gym and Best Coach. The prized pugilists boxed their way to six gold medals and a silver medal.
Travis Inverary defeated his game gym mate, Patrick Harvey via split decision in their entertaining 63-66kg bout to earn the Best Boxer spoils.
Led by AIBA Three-Star Coach, Sebert Blake, the FYF racked up six points to lift the Best Gym accolade. Young Achievers finished second runners up with four points. Third was Vergenoegen Boxing Gym on three points while the Rose Hall Jammers finished with two points.
Blake earned the Best Coach award for the heroics of his charges.
It was a great outing for the city-based boxing club which returned to the Berbice Town for an amateur card after a two-decades.
In keeping with President Irfaan Ali’s theme of ‘One Guyana’, the GBA took the stance to decentralize the fistic sport, hence the staging of the event outside of Georgetown.
Said President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle “This fits into His Excellency’s concept of ‘One Guyana’ and it plays a big part in decentralizing the sport of boxing. This was the first time I think in about 20 years the amateur association hosted boxing in Rose Hall.”
The event came on the heels of the successful Caribbean School Boys and Juniors Championships, and attract the best youth and junior boxers of the 592 competing in 16 bouts. There was also an exhibition bout featuring sisters, Alesha and Abiola Jackman.
Ninvalle, who dubbed Saturday’s card a success, then stated that plans are in the pipeline to host boxing events in the Cinderella County of Essequibo and in Lethem. (Emmerson Campbell)
