ONE of Guyana’s most famous boxers, Terrence Alli, was over the weekend named as an inductee of the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.

Alli, 58, made his debut in 1979 against Winston Goodridge, winning on points, and it was the perfect start for the man many felt had placed Guyana on the world stage long before Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis won the country’s first World Title in 2001.

The seventh annual New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) induction dinner will be held on April 29, at Russo’s On the Bay in Howard Beach, New York.
“This day is for all these inductees who worked so hard for our enjoyment,” NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy said, “and for what they did for New York State boxing.”
Each attending inductee (or direct descendant of Alli) will receive a custom-designed belt signifying his or her induction into the NYSBHOF.

The life and career of Terrence Alli embodies both the glory and the tragedy that often lurk not far from one another in the world of boxing.
He was an exciting, eccentric and socially-conscious fighter who became the world’s top Super Lightweight contender.
Alli finished his career with 52 wins (25 by knockout), 15 losses and two draws but will be forever be remembered as one of the best fighters Guyana has ever produced but who has never won a world title.

Alli’s first shot at a world title was in 1985 against Harry Arroyo for the IBF World Lightweight Title but, the Guyanese was knocked out by the American.
Eight years later, Alli found himself against Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez for the WBC World Super Lightweight Title.

Guyanese at home and abroad were glued to their television screens to witness the classic showdown, hoping that Alli could take down the man who at the time had defended his title against the likes of Hector Camacho, Angel Hernandez and Meldrick Taylor.
However, luck was not on Alli’s side, since he was beaten by the Mexican.

The Guyanese entered the ring seven times and lost them all; including losses to ‘Six Heads’ Lewis for the vacant Guyanese Welterweight Title and his WBC International Super Welterweight Title against Quirino Garcia (Unanimous Decision)
To his credit, Alli was the USBA Lightweight Champion and NABF Super Lightweight Title-holder.

Perhaps sadder still, by all accounts he feels he has been forsaken by the country that he always proudly represented with such patriotic vigour, even when he had to go abroad to advance his career.