Regional Boxing Associations calling on Guyana to host Caribbean Championships

Various Regional Boxing Associations believe Guyana should be the hosts of this year’s Caribbean Championships, with Guyana being the top Caribbean territory in Amateur boxing.

FLASHBACK! Guyana's Keevin Allicock (right) in action against Trinidadian Anthony Joseph during the Caribbean Boxing Championships hosted in Guyana.

The event, last hosted in Trinidad and Tobago has not been held since 2019.

Guyana played host to the prestigious boxing event in 2015 and 2018, as well as hosting the inaugural event.

With the Commonwealth Games and the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Continental being some of the top competitions this year, David ‘Shakes’ Christopher, President of the St Lucia Boxing Association, believes that Guyana should host this year.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association (TTBA) Cecil Forde, echoed Christopher’s call.

Guyana Boxing Association President Steve Ninvalle indicated his willingness to bring the event back to Guyana.

“This is something that I will have to speak to the other executives about. I’m enthused about it. Me personally because of the love that I have for the sport. It also shows how Guyana is viewed in the wider Caribbean. We have accepted the leadership Capacity that we’ve been pushed into. I would like to see this tournament held here. Guyana is also central to several countries coming,”

Ninvalle said.

St Maarten was earmarked to host this year’s event but according to sources, boxing authorities in the Island are facing some logistical and financial issues.

“Dominica was earmarked also,”

Christopher said while adding

“but I don’t think they have the capacity to do such (host the Caribbean Championship). So we shouldn’t try to reinvent a tournament that we lost two years ago. This is where all the countries/Islands come together to showcase our development and elite boxers. That is where we get ranking for the Caribbean. So without that, it’s like we’re spinning top in mud; we wouldn’t get anywhere.”

Guyana finished third at the 2019 Caribbean Boxing Championships after winning nine medals against a tough field of boxers in Trinidad and Tobago over four nights of competition at the Na­tion­al Cy­cling Cen­tre (NCC) at Bal­main, Cou­va.

Trinidad and Tobago, which had a field of 25 boxers, were crowned champions, while Barbados pipped Guyana by a single point to place second.

Some 17 nations, including powerhouse Cuba, participated in the 2019 championships.