BRIDGETOWN, Barbados CMC – Leading regional boxing promoter Sam Layne has lamented the passing of Aruba’s world recognised official Roy Van Putten, declaring that he will be “sorely missed”.
Van Putten, founder and long-standing president of the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE), died last Wednesday from heart trouble.
“He will be sorely missed, not only in the Caribbean but in the entire world of boxing,” Layne told CMC Sport.
Layne described Van Putten as being fully committed to boxing, giving a lot to the sport.
“Roy was an icon in boxing, a man who was honest, loyal, very fair and committed to boxing,” he said.
“He has taught me a lot about boxing, both in and out of the ring. He taught me how to be a gentleman as he was and how to be respectable,” Layne added.
Van Putten was a vice-president of the World Boxing Council (WBC) which he joined in 1985.
He handed over the CABOFE presidency last year at the 5th annual general meeting in Barbados where Guyana’s Peter Abdool took over, and Layne said the foundation he has given the organisation will serve them well into the future.
“The work that he has left will put us in a very good position to proceed,” said Layne, who first met Van Putten at the 2000 WBC medical convention at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
Layne credited Van Putten for facilitating the rise of several of his boxers, including Leon Moore, Christopher Henry, and Marcus Thomas, who all secured international opportunities after claiming CABOFE titles.
“His thrust gave Caribbean boxers international exposure that was very difficult, sometimes non-existent unless our boxers were able to travel overseas to further their careers,” Layne said.
“Roy has assisted and fought for Caribbean fighters like Henry, Moore and Thomas. Moore and Henry secured world top 10 ratings really through Van Putten’s work,” said Layne, the 2003 CABOFE promoter of the year.
The WBC will declare a day of world mourning in boxing and a posthumous homage will be offered to Van Putten at their 48th Annual World Convention to be held in Cancun, Mexico in November.