THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is battling to have a team of five boxers and two officials attend the Pan Am Qualifiers scheduled for Tijuana, Mexico next month. GBA Technical Director Terrence Poole said yesterday that the association has struggled to come up with the G$1.5M needed for the team’s airfare alone.

“We have found now that tickets that were US$900 have now jumped to double time that. The price goes up every day. However, it is extremely important that we attend the qualifier even with the price that high.
Poole, Guyana’s first Three Start coach, explained that in addition to airfare the association is saddled with the responsibility of providing accommodation in Mexico which is budgeted at US$2000.
“I’ll use this medium to appeal to all and sundry to pitch in and assist in making this trip for our team a reality. We need this sort of exposure if we are to stand a chance of delivering at the Olympics,” Poole said.
‘Time is running out as we had planned to leave on Friday. This would give out fighters five days to acclimatise.”
The GBA has selected United States-based super heavyweight Quincy `Biggy’ Small, middleweight Dennis Thomas, junior welterweight Jason Phillips, lightweight Diwani Lampkin and bantamweight Delon Charles to participate at the tournament which is due to kick off on June 4.
The boxers would be accompanied by manager/coach Sebert Blake and Francisco Roldan.
The team has been encamped at the Andrew `Sixhead’ Gym in Albouystown for the last two weeks. Boxers winning gold, silver or bronze medals in Mexico are automatically qualified for the Pan Am Games due to be held in Canada in July.