Guyana is set to become the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean to financially compensate its elite amateur pugilists when the Terrence Ali National Open Championship boxes off from December 15 at the National Gymnasium.
This is according to a press release disseminated to the media yesterday by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA).
According to the release, the three-night event regarded as the holy grail of local amateur boxing, returns off the canvass after facing dormancy since 2019.
In an effort to further solidify the tournament’s eminence following the aforesaid absence, and continue the discipline’s developmental trajectory, the local governing authority will financially compensate the top three finishers within each weight class of the Elite division.
The esteemed event, which is the final statutory competition to be conducted by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), will provide the perfect culmination for an eventual year for the sport.
Essentially, the Elite division, the crème de crème of the local amateur circuit, will receive financial remunerations for finishing in the top three positions [gold, silver, and bronze].
The release also stated that the momentous decision was inspired by and comes on the heels of the historic move by the International Boxing Association (IBA) under the stewardship of Umar Kremlev, to increase the prize pool by a mammoth 50% for the 2023 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from May 1-14.
“Once again, this is indicative of the GBA’s developmental aim in creating not only an enabling environment for the development of the discipline but to maintain the nation’s position as the premier amateur hub in the English-speaking Caribbean region,” stated the release.
GBA President Steve Ninvalle, who is the architect of this novel idea, said, “This is a momentous decision by the local body, a choice which was guided and influenced directly by IBA’s resolution and eventual pronouncement to increase the prize pool for the 2023 World Championship. Amateur boxing at the international level is on the pathway to competitive and financial sustainability given the actions of IBA, and the GBA aims to employ a similar ideology and objective.”
He added, “This is a first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, a feat that should be recognized and is the initial step on the path of creating, and contributing to a financial ecosystem for local pugilists. We are now firmly part and parcel of the fabric and environment that IBA is aiming to conceptualize for the future direction of the discipline. This is another spectacular day for the discipline.”
‘Dynamite’ Desmond Amsterdam, who is the highest ranked local IBA pugilist at number 23, following his outstanding displays at the Commonwealth Games, as well as bronze medal achievements at the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Championship, and South American Games, will headline the event, alongside 54th ranked Keevin Allicock, who also captured a bronze medal at the South American Games.
Future details of the tournament, inclusive of the financial compensations that will be afforded to the resulting gold, silver, and bronze medalists, will be disclosed soon.
