Boxing brings out the bravery in me
—Says IBA world-ranked female fighter Abiola Jackman
Acknowledging her responsibility as a role model for young girls, emerging pugilist Abiola Jackman, who is set to make her Pro/Am debut at the ‘Return of the Scorpio’ Card on Sunday, says that her success in the discipline which has seen her achieve a historic feat of an IBA ranking, was only possible due to her unwavering commitment. Jackman, alongside sibling Alesha Jackman, created history by becoming the first female Guyanese boxers to attain a coveted IBA ranking following their exploits at this year’s Women’s World Championships in New Delhi, India. Abiola Jackman is now seeded 27th in the world in the Elite Women 81 and over Kg or heavyweight division.
She expounded, “It’s a great and overwhelming feeling. Firstly I couldn’t have done it without the lord, my coach
Sebert Blake and the president of the Guyana Boxing Association Steve Ninvalle. It all came through hard work and dedication to the sport and Ninvalle believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.”
According to Jackman, her status as a paragon for emerging female boxers is an honour.
“It’s very much important to me because I’m helping to nurture the other young athletes in the sport and I look at it as an amazing thing to do.”
The heavy-handed orthodox pugilist is currently in the preparatory phase for her upcoming battle with Trinidad and Tobago champion Lee Ann Boodram at the ‘Return of the Scorpio’ Fight Night.
Asked about her expectations for the above-mentioned encounter, a confident Jackman declared, “To win the gold medal and the trophy.”
Probed on the importance of co-headlining the amateur section of the International card alongside her sibling, and fighting in front of what is expected to be a capacity viewership, she stated, “Well at first I was always
a shy person and now my sport brings out the bravery in me so it’s an exciting experience. It’s an amazing opportunity for me to expose my skills on my first-ever professional card.”
Jackman declared that the
experience garnered at the World Championships in India will not only aid her during the upcoming contest but the foreseeable future.
“I’ve learned so many things that have been helping me now and also I know it going to help me in the near future,” she posited.
The highly-anticipated ‘Return of the Scorpio’ Pro/Am Card, which will be staged Sunday at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, is considered by many analysts and enthusiasts as the biggest fight card in more than a decade. It is projected to surpass the quality of the highly lauded Patrick Forde Memorial Championships, an event that is considered the unquestionable yardstick for a local boxing fight card.
Five exciting professional bouts and an amateur section of equal measure are established for the upcoming fight night that will be headlined and co-headlined by Elton Dharry and Dexter ‘De Kid’ Marques respectively.
Dharry will enter the squared circle against Ramos Ronald in an eight-round Bantamweight fixture whilst Marques will battle Luis Carrillo in an eight-round Super Bantamweight encounter.
A Caribbean rivalry will also recommence as Terrence Adams is penciled in to face off against Barbadian Ricardo Blackman, while Anthony Augustin will match skills with Emmanuel Anderson of Barbados. The card will also feature a sixround Super Flyweight bout between Natalya Delgado and Darianis Garcia.