Olympic boxer, Keevin Allicock will look to return to his winning ways when he enters the ring in one of the feature bouts of the stacked Patrick Forde Memorial Boxing card tomorrow at the National Gymnasium.
The prize featherweight’s aim is to entertain and impress in his first outing since a forgettable campaign in Paraguay at the South American Games last October.
“I looked back at my performance and I want to check my stamina, my speed and the things that I learned back home,” said Allicock yesterday on the sidelines of the event’s final press conference.
“There is a lot more to work on, so I am focusing on my craft and my power when I get into the ring.”
Allicock, who suffered a health scare which was diagnosed as rhabdomyolysis after unsuccessfully struggling to make weight in his 57kg semi-final bout in Paraguay, is set to face Samuel Green of Suriname.
The 23-year-old, nicknamed ‘Lightning’ is excited to strike.”
“It is going to be fantastic, I am here to perform for my people, the fans which I love. I want to show my talent once again, who knows me know I am very talented and skillful.”
Allicock added, “You will be seeing tons of speed coming from me, something that you can’t be sitting comfortably to look at.” The Tokyo 2020 Olympian is encouraging fight fans to come out and support Team Guyana.
“I am looking forward to seeing your (the fans) faces because I am not just fighting for me here. I am representing my country and I love to have the fans there seeing me fight and perform once more.”
Allicock reiterated, “I am really looking forward to seeing the faces of my people of Guyana.”
The event, which has an international flavour, gets cracking from 18:00hrs and is scheduled to attract the cream of the Region’s pugilists from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia and Suriname.
While a total of 16 bouts are scheduled, 12 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.
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 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 championships, 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 Forde, passed away in 2011 at the age of 55.
