Allicock to lead strong Guyana team to World boxing C/ships
—staggering cash prizes for medal winners
The Guyana Boxing Association will be sending its largest team to the World championships later this month to Serbia.
The five-man team is made up of four boxers and one coach.
The boxers are Olympian, Keevin Allicock, Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam and Dennis Thomas. AIBA Three Star, Sebert Blake will take on coaching duties. The World championships are scheduled for October 26 to November 6 in Belgrade, Serbia.
President of the Guyana Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle, stated that there is heightened interest in the upcoming event since the World governing body AIBA, has put up staggering purses for boxers receiving gold, silver and bronze medals.
“AIBA’s president, Umar Kremlev has remained true to his word. At the World championships a gold medal will be worth US$100,000 (twenty million Guyana dollars), silver medal US$50,000 and bronze US$25,000. This is a welcome input to our sport and which should result in even more determined efforts by athletes,” Ninvalle said.
In addition, the GBA boss informed that Guyana will follow suit and have monetary prizes at its national championships.
Ninvalle disclosed that the GBA is finalizing arrangements to have the four boxers attend a training camp in Serbia leading up to the World championships.
He also informed that every boxing gym across Guyana has been given a donation of a quantity of gear in the last three weeks.
“All gyms were given heavy bags, speed balls, gloves (10, 12 and 14 ounces), skipping ropes, mouth guards, hand wraps and groin protectors among others. This became possible after a donation from AIBA.”