The Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) 12-member contingent, which features the largest representation of female fighters, departed local shores yesterday to compete in the ‘Champion of Champions’ boxing tournament in St. Lucia, which is slated to commence tomorrow.
This was confirmed by an official release from the entity. According to the correspondence, the eight-member fight roster will consist of three female pugilists in the form of Abiola (heavyweight), Alesha Jackman (middleweight), and Angelina Rodgers (flyweight).
The Jackman siblings represented Guyana at the 2023 World Championships in India, while Rodgers will be making her international debut.
The other members of the squad, who will be under the guidance of national coaches Lennox Daniels and Clifton Moore, are: Shakquain James (welterweight); Ryan Rodgers (bantamweight); Keyon Britton (44 kg); Zidhan Wray (super-heavyweight); and Junior Madray (28 kg).
Meanwhile, International Technical Officer Elton Chase and One-Star Referee/Judge Lawrence Assanah are the other members of the delegation. Among the territories that have confirmed their participation are: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Martinique, and Trinidad and Tobago.
GBA President Steve Ninvalle said that the executive committee attempted to have world-rated fighter Akeela Vancooten also participate in the competition but was unsuccessful owing to a lack of opponents in her weight and age categories.
According to Ninvalle, “What is historic about our participation in this championship is that three females will compete on the international circuit, which is a major step in the development of the women’s component of the discipline. This has not occurred in years and is evidence of the strides that we are making and realising in the female aspect. Our participation in this competition arrives weeks after the introduction of the inaugural GBA Academy, an initiative that further adds to the structure that has encompassed our developmental ideology.”
“The GBA views this event from a developmental standpoint, as we aim to expose our emerging talents, especially females, to the rigours of international competition, which unmistakably is experience that will prove vital with the Caribbean Championships scheduled for August.
This is even more significant for the females, who are expected to lead a revolution in aspiring for more participation in the future, which is a major objective of the academy,” he further added.
Guyana’s Travelling Contingent
Roster
Abiola Jackman (heavyweight)
Alesha Jackman (middleweight)
Angelina Rodgers (flyweight)
Shakquain James (welterweight)
Ryan Rodgers (bantamweight)
Keyon Britton (44Kg)
Zidhan Wray (super heavyweight)
Junior Madray (28Kg)
Technical Officers/Coaches
National Coach Lennox Daniels
National Coach Clifton Moore
One-Star Referee/Judge Lawrence Assanah
International Technical Officer Elton Chase
