Quarantine requirement delays int’l boxing show
PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Boxing Board (JBB), Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones, said the international boxing show that was being planned for this month has again been postponed due to quarantine requirements for Colombian boxers slated to compete on the card.
Jones revealed that the six-week, bubble-styled, made-for-television show, which has been delayed for over a year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, had received all the necessary permits and approvals from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).
However, he says the majority of fighters were Colombians, who at the time needed two weeks’ quarantine, and this, Jones said, was not practical at the time.
“The long and short of it is because they (promoters) are foreigners and they are learning a new landscape, as Jamaica is new for them, it was decided that we should postpone it. The bulk of the fighters come from Colombia and we got everything and everyone on point, as the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Sports helped us and ODPEM passed us,” Jones said.
“We passed everything and put the card together, but four of the fighters who were being matched up came from Colombia and we realised Colombia was on a list of countries where people had to do mandatory quarantine for two weeks.
“That was impossible,” Jones remarked. “We believed they could come in, fight and leave. But Colombia was listed as a ‘red list’ country. So we decided to hold it off for a little bit.”
WILLING TO WAIT
He said they later learned they could have got an exemption. Nevertheless, the promoters are willing to wait.
“When the guys (promoters) do this, they want it to work for everybody. We were anxious for it to happen this month, but that came up. So they want to wait until it is sure and everything can fall into place,” noted Jones, who pointed to the Reggae Boyz’s World Cup qualifier on Tuesday as a precedent.
“But I am glad the football match (Jamaica vs USA) is coming. They will have people in the stands. So that will set the precedent that things can be relaxed for other sports,” Jones observed.
“They (promoters) are still in conversation with us. They have waited this long and want to make sure they do it proper. So they are saying let’s do it for 2022 early.
“When we feel the atmosphere has changed, whether by vaccination drive or things start opening up, it will be a good sign. We are having a big sporting event that’s allowing patrons in the stadium. If that works we will feel more comfortable about public spaces and things like that will show we can open up,” he said.