Sports view by Neil Kumar
GUYANA achieved its first ever Olympic Medal in Boxing. Guyana already achieved six World Titles in Boxing.  Hence, the exceptional proposal by the Boxing Board and particularly Peter Abdool must be supported by all Guyanese.
The Friday Night Fights are already receiving the support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport/National Sports Commission along with the main Television Station (NCN). The synergies between the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Guyana Amateur Boxing Association, National Communications Network (NCN) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport along with cooperate citizens will certainly lead to the positive and successful development in Boxing in this country.
The idea to organise a Professional/Amateur Boxing Card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on the last Friday of every month to be televised live across Guyana is indeed a marvellous idea.  Further, the endorsement of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, along with the other supporting National structures must be welcome.
Boxers:
Guyanese boxers while fighting as Amateurs will be given an opportunity to fight regularly and competitively. This programme will certainly give rise to the better functioning of the existing Gyms.  Hence, more Gyms will be established around the country.
The Amateur Boxing Association is the reservoir for our Professional Boxing Board.  Friday Night Fights will give the young amateurs the opportunity to fight regularly and strengthen their records. Further, the Amateur Association will also be organising their different local championships.  However the ‘Pro-Am’ Card will expose the young boxers to the Guyanese people.
Hence, there will be more awareness and corporate citizens and boxing fans will be far more supportive to the Boxing developmental programme.
This Card will produce an arena where young professional fighters will bolster their records to better qualify for the International fights. The amateurs will be able to showcase their boxing skills to the public and compete fiercely at the National Level in order to develop their skills and sharpen their techniques.
‘Friday Night Fights’ will take live boxing both Professional and Amateur directly in the homes of our people. While some people will enjoy the boxing during relaxation others will enjoy it at leisure. Many people will be rooting for their village fighters while at home. However, thousands will not miss the opportunity to be at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to witness live fights.
The live coverage will give our young boxers the quality of exposure that will make them more technically prepared for victory and will also attract wide popular support and above all sponsorship.
The Boxers will also give their coaches, managers, executives and promoter the golden opportunity to get valuable exposure to the public.
This new boxing initiative will certainly allow the corporate sector by way of this public familiarisation to see and adopt boxers throughout their amateur career, sponsor amateur tournaments, assist in travelling, establish new gyms and further contribute with the necessary equipment.
This ‘Pro-Am’ Card will give the young Professional Boxers some seed money.  While the bouts will be over four to six rounds each. Hence, each fight will be more action-oriented. It is imperative that the amateur fighters be recognised and fight under the established AIBA rules.
The organisers are very careful and they are conducting the programme to keep the amateur boxers in line for Professional/Amateur Cards regionally and internationally.
This process will also give rise to a better quality produce by the television. A special panel will be trained to give commentary.
Commentary on the fights will have to be of the highest quality.  The public will have to be provided with a rich history of boxing in Guyana, while the current data will certainly be provided to the listening and viewing public. The panel will be exposed to all the Amateur activities, while special seminars will be conducted to enable the panel to be more informative, and acceptable to the public.
This Guyana Boxing Board of Control Initiative will be a win-win reality.  Today, we need all our synergies to work together for the further development of all our sports disciplines. Hence, it is imperative that other disciplines emulate this new formula for the betterment of our sporting fraternity.