The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Lennox Blackmore National Intermediate Championship will box off tonight at the National Gymnasium, with defending champions GDF fielding a strong team and smaller gyms such as the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) hoping to make a splash despite their small number.
At the weigh-in and medical assessment yesterday afternoon, Stabroek News Sports spoke to FYF’s coach, Sebert Blake, who is optimistic about his few fighters’ chances.
In terms of preparation, Blake revealed, “It was excellent; my kids put in good work, and I know that they are going to try to go hard for it. Most of them have come through from the youth level, so they have some experience”.
Despite having that experience, the Intermediate Championship is a step-up for Blake’s charges. “This is the first time they’re fighting in this category, but I’m sure they will give a good account of themselves. We just have three boxers, but I have high hopes for all of them. We have Travis Inverary, Septon Barton, and Dwayne Castello”.
Blake also expressed his gratitude to the GBA, as the FYF does not have a permanent home gym. “We have been training out of the Andre “Six Head” Lewis Gym, and we are very grateful to the GBA, who gave us permission to use the gym.”
Meanwhile, the police gym, with 14 contenders—every perennial challenger at any level of boxing—has declared their intent to win each bout that they enter. That intent was made clear by their coach, Dexter Marques.
“Everybody heading into their respective weight classes has a good chance. In amateur boxing, everybody comes to win. Our training went well in the gym; we had a lot of preparation for the last six to eight weeks, and that is an important factor. We can’t predict what will happen, but I’m just hoping we come out successfully in this tournament”.
In an invited comment to Stabroek News Sports, the GBA’s President, Steve Ninvalle, pointed out that despite the championship being held way past its usual date, the GBA will make sure that their annual statutory competitions are pulled off before the year is out.
“It is later than we usually host the intermediate competition; the reason being, we have had a tremendous year in terms of international competitions. We’ve had a rewarding year as well. This year, we focused a lot on exposing our boxers, coaches, and officials to various levels of competition. We will make sure that we are able to complete our trilogy (Novices, Intermediates, and Opens) of national competitions”.
The defending champions, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, and FYF, are expected to come up against other gyms, the likes of ‘Pace and Power’, Rose Hall, Vergenoegen, and the Republican gyms. Action begins tonight at 6 p.m. and will continue tomorrow before culminating on Sunday night at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue. (Michelangelo Jacobus)
