‘Bomber’ Jones remains boxing board boss
STEPHEN ‘BOMBER’ Jones was returned as president of the Jamaica Boxing Board last Tuesday night at the annual general meeting of the Jamaica Boxing Association which was held in the conference room of the Sports Development Foundation.
Also elected were Alexander Johnson, first vice-president, Lt Col (Retired) Derek Robinson second vice-president, Leroy Brown, general secretary, Major Champlini Henry, assistant general secretary, Debra Lopez-Spence, treasurer, Wallace Campbell and Kingsley Goodison.
Jones, who has been president since 2011, said that there were major plans for the sport for the next 12 months, and increased activity was anticipated among both amateur and professional boxers. A lot of work was being done in the inner city, he said, and over 500 young boxers are now engaged in various programmes. The board, he said, will soon be launching a ‘Gloves for Guns’ programme which will be designed to pull youngsters from the streets and into productive activity. The sport had been introduced informally to several schools this year, Jones said, and the new administration will be making an effort to get the sport back into schools on a structured basis.
He made special mention of two members of the board, general secretary Leroy Brown and Kingsley Goodison, who he said had served the sport well over the years. Brown, he pointed out, had been in boxing for more than 51 years, which Jones said was a remarkable achievement.
Brown has served administratively in various capacities from board member up to president, and also as a local and international official. He was still giving yeoman service as general secretary and technical director, he pointed out.
Goodison, the boxing association boss said, worked particularly with young people in the inner city areas, and nurtured and mentored them. He also sponsored the annual summer camp, that is held at the Stanley Couch gym.