… Roldan is coach

A THREE-man team representing the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) is scheduled to depart for Barbados on Friday to participate in an international competition there.Light heavyweight Markember `Violence’ Pierre and bantamweight Travis Hubbard are the two boxers making the trip to Barbados. They would be accompanied by coach Francisco Roldan.
Hubbard is set to participate at the youth level while Pierrie would compete among the elites.
The talented Hubbard, who hails from the Harpy Eagles Gym in Albouystown, recently won a decision over Shaka Moore during the Inter-Guiana competition held at the Andrew Lewis Gym. Pierrie trains at the Guyana Defence Force Gym and represented Guyana at the last ALBA Games staged in Venezuela.
He has also been a national middleweight champion for several years. Guyana Boxing Association Technical Director Terrence Poole maintained that the two boxers can hold their own against the best in the Caribbean.
“These are two experienced fighters. Both have campaigned successfully overseas several times and I would expect that they would do it again in Barbados,” Poole said. The competition is set for the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex on Saturday.
GABA president Steve Ninvalle said that it’s the second team to Barbados this year. He pointed out that since the meeting of Caribbean presidents in Barbados in May, there has been increased cooperation between Caribbean associations which augurs well for the development of the sport in this region.
According to Ninvalle, Barbados made “specific requests” and the local association was happy to fulfil.
“This year we have seen an increase in overseas assignments and competitions for our boxers. We have participated in more than six international competitions for the year and have on schedule at least two more before December,” Ninvalle said.
The team will return home on Sunday.