International boxing returns to the National Gymnasium next Sunday when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) in collaboration with McDonald Promotions, stages the 2023 edition of the Patrick Ford Memorial Championship.
This is according to a release sent out by the GBA yesterday.
The release stated that the one-day event, which gets cracking from 19:00hrs, will be the first international sports venture staged on local shores for 2023 for any discipline.
It is set to attract pugilists from Barbados, Suriname, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The release also stated that the coronavirus pandemic was the reason for the event’s absence, with the previous iteration being staged in 2019 and only featuring international participation in the form of Suriname.
While a total of 15 bouts are scheduled, 11 international fights are confirmed for the night’s proceedings, with the emerging schoolboys division, which is the nursery of the GBA, also expected to feature albeit in a local capacity.
The competition will also mark an important resumption of female international boxing as rising stars and siblings Alisha and Abiola Jackman will return to the squared circle in preparation for the IBA Women’s World Championship in New Delhi, India from March 15-31 2023.
It will be Alisha’s first taste of international combat while this will be Abiola’s reappearance on the international
circuit since winning gold at the 2019 Caribbean Championship in Trinidad and Tobago.
Meanwhile, Sportsman of Year, GBA Boxer of the Year, and highest-ranked local IBA pugilist [on 23] Desmond Amsterdam, will headline the international section which will also feature Junior Commonwealth Silver medalist Keevin Allicock and Colin Lewis.
According to information emanating from the GBA, public interest in the tournament is at a zenith, as tickets that were initially available have been sold out, which is indicative of the sport’s growing momentum and direction.
The prestigious competition is being staged in honour of the late pugilist Ford, who etched his name in the annals of Guyana’s boxing history by becoming the first Guyanese to contest for the world title under the Golden Arrowhead. In his first attempt at international glory, Ford lost a contentious bout to Mexican Salvador Sanchez for the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title on September 13, 1980.
Ford, who captured the WBC Fecarbox title and Commonwealth featherweight championship lost his second bid at international glory at the hands of Eusebio Pedroza of Panama. He ended his career with an impressive 23-fight record of 19 wins and four defeats.
Ford, who was the brother of pugilist Reginald Ford passed away in 2011 at the age of 55.
The official international fight card is below
1. Jamal Eastman (GUY) vs Domelzo Schet (SUR)
2. Qunice Boyce (GUY) vs Richard Evert (SUR)
3. Nikaela Khodra (STL) vs Leeann Boodram (T&T) (FEMALE)
4. Brian Harris (GUY) vs Jaden Castillano (T&T)
5. Alesha Jackman (GUY) vs Shawnelle Hamid (T&T) (FEMALE)
6. Joel Williamson (GUY) vs Jeremiah Toussaint (BAR)
7. Colin Lewis (GUY) vs Nathan Debesette (T&T)
8. Abiola Jackman (GUY) vs Kamara Stuart (BAR)
9. Keevin Allicock (GUY) vs Samuel Greene (SUR)
10. Troy Glasgow (GUY) vs Leandro Dongo (SUR)
11. Desmond Amsterdam (GUY) vs Nickelle Joseph (T&T)
