By Charwayne Walker
Our boxers are presently in Cuba preparing for this month’s Pan American Games boxing championships in Santiago, Chile.
Today, Stabroek Sports will pay homage to this nation’s first Pan American Games boxing medalist Carl Crawford.
Fighting in the middle weight division (75 kg) Crawford won bronze at the August 27th – September 7th 1959 Pan American Games held in Chicago, United States of America.
Crawford is also the first Guyanese boxer to win the Guyana Sportsman-of-the-year award in 1959.
The next Guyanese boxer to medal at the Pan American Games was the late Reginald Ford.
Ford won bronze in the light welter weight division (63.5kg) at the Pan American Games held in Cali, Columbia from July, 20 to August 5, 1971.
Kenny Bristol added his name to the Pan American Games list when he punched his way to a silver medal in the welter weight division (67 kg) at the 1975 championships held in Mexico City from 12th to 16th October.
Alfred Thomas, fighting in the middle weight division won a bronze medal at the 1979 Games held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from July 2nd to 16th.
Wilfred Moses, in the light heavy weight division (81kg) won bronze at the 1987 Games held in Indianapolis 8th – 23 August.
Terrence Poole in the light heavy weight division (81) kg won bronze at the 1991 Games held in Havana Cuba.
Stephen “Tuffy” Rose in the fly weight division, won bronze at the 1991 games held in Havana, Cuba and
Clive Atwell fighting in the bantamweight division, won bronze at the 2007 games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Only time will tell if Desmond Amsterdam and Kevin Allicock will join this coveted list.
