PRESIDENT of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) and Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) Steve Ninvalle extended congratulations to Michael Parris and Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis on their latest accolades.
The pair became national awardees after they were chosen to receive the Medal of Service (MS) for their contribution to the sport of boxing in Guyana.
Parris is Guyana’s lone Olympic medallist, having won a bronze medal at the 1980 Olympics which was held in Moscow while Lewis etched his name into the archives of Guyana’s boxing when he knocked out James Paige back in February 17, 2001, to become Guyana’s first world champion.
Ninvalle expressed pleasure that the two were chosen, saying: “It goes to show that in the long run perseverance pays off and puts an athlete in good stead during their career and even after it would have climaxed.”
He noted the contributions both boxers made to Guyana which he described as immense, while stating the recognition they brought is noteworthy, hence the bestowing of the MS is fitting and deserving.
Ninvalle challenged young fighters to emulate the pair in their disciplined work ethic and reap similar rewards of being able to be on top of their game and serve self and country with distinction. He praised the boxers for the hard work they have done in the past.