‘Dynamite’ Desmond Amsterdam will look to clinch a quarterfinal berth and join rarefied company when he enters the ring today at the ongoing IBA World Boxing Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The reigning Sportsman-of-the-Year winner, who progressed to the round-of-16 with a split decision win against Bulgaria’s Kristiyan Nikolov at the Humo Arena last Friday, will look to continue his winning ways against Spain’s Gafurova Jalidov.
Bell time is scheduled for 05:00hrs (local time).
Once ‘Dynamite’ detonates, he will join the likes of Reginald Ford and Mark Harris as the only Guyanese pugilists to compete in the quarterfinals of the biennial event which started in 1974.
In an invited comment, President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle stated yesterday that the prized light heavyweight “is a determined and hungry and will give of his best.”
Ninvalle then disclosed that Amsterdam is “the only CARICOM fighter left in the hunt for a medal at the World Championships.”
A local fighter has never graced the podium at the championships.
Amsterdam, who earned a bronze medal at the AMBC Elite Championships last year in Ecuador, has an opportunity to continue his medal hunt today in Tashkent.
Guyana’s other representative at the event, featherweight, Keevin Allicock lost his round-of-32 bout on Friday on points versus hometown prospect, Khalokv Abdumalik. (Emmerson Campbell)
