In years gone by the name Terrence Halley was synonymous with ‘boxing stardom’ and repeated victories on the international front, putting Guyana on the map amongst the elites in the sport of Boxing.

His name was almost on the tongues of every Guyanese and he was indeed the icon that Guyanese depended on to signal to the world that Guyana has talent and gifted personalities. His fame spiraled to great heights for many years as he performed miracles in the international Lightweight Boxing Division.
His still impressive records reads 52 winnings, (21 knockouts), 15 defeats, and 2 draws, while he has boxed some 550 rounds in his career.
After a while the fame of Terrence Alli began to dwindle and eventually it seemed as if he disappeared altogether. Hi many Guyanese fans were at lost as to what had happened to him, and his relatives at Catherine Ville, Mahaicony, were always tightlipped about his whereabouts and what had actually happened to him. There was no mention of him on the local or international news waves, and his fans were just left to wonder.
Youths in the Calcutta Village, missed his many visits to the village from the USA, and the many gifts he brought them on his treks to the homeland. No one seemed to know where the star had disappeared to. Then rumours began to circulate that the talented boxer had become involved in drug trafficking and began ingesting substances himself.
Then in 1998 the boxer mysteriously appeared in Guyana, specifically in Catherine Villages where many of his close relatives resided. It was quite evident to all that there was something wrong with the once celebrated boxer. His speech was somewhat slurred, and to some in the village he appeared to be a man of unsound mind.
On arrival in the village Halley quickly became the focus of many idle youths and adults alike from Calcutta Village who began calling him names sending him into fits of rage when they did. The once celebrated king had now become the scorn and amusement of the village and none seemed to remember his past accomplishments.

Where our star and what is he up to?
Talk about luck… Just last week while visiting various locations along the East Coast of Demerara  who did I bump into but Terrence Halley himself, enjoying a game of cards with other young men in Catherine Ville.
Well he seemed a bit hesitant when he realized he was being confronted by a media representative, but soon relaxed when he realized it was someone with whom he was acquainted some years ago.
Halley was very elated that someone was actually paying interest in him, and related that since his fall from stardom, everyone seemed to have found him to be a ‘village amusement personality’. He even mentioned that as he travelled around Guyana, citizens just refused to believe that he was the once celebrated king of boxing.
“Everywhere I go people just seem to make fun of me. Nobody even seems to remember that I was once the boxing champion that was doing wonders for Guyana. In some cases persons would laugh me to scorn when I tell them I am the legendary Terrence Halley”.
My finding during our interview was that the boxer now resides by himself in Catherine Ville and is now a farmer by profession. His days are now spent hanging with youths in the village, playing cards, or reminiscing on the good times he enjoyed when he was a star.

He clears the air on some allegations…
Everyone seems to think that Halley was thrown from his ‘throne of glory’ after he became involved in the trafficking and use of illegal substances. However, the gentleman refuted these claims, saying that these were just rumors and fabrications.
“I was never involved in drugs and no time, nor was never taking any illegal substances. People think that I am mad, but I am not a madman. Everyone gets old in any profession and has to retire. I am now fifty two years of age and it was time for me to hang up my gloves”.
Halley does not really miss the glitz and fame he once enjoyed, but of course misses the ‘big money’ it brought him in those times.

Halley left Guyana in 1982 to follow his intended career and went first to Trinidad where he invaded the boxing arena and soon made a name for himself. On arriving in Trinidad he worked as a construction worker before going into the trade of boxing full time.
Soon after he travelled to Canada, and later the USA, and it was in these two states that he soared up the ladder of success and became one of the most celebrated boxers from the Caribbean.
The once talented boxer stopped boxing in 1997 and returned to Guyana in 1998.
Well he is back in Guyana and is finished with boxing altogether, regardless of what circumstances have caused this to happen. On arrival here in Guyana it was Halley’s intention to pass on his skills to the many youths in the Mahaicony district and even Berbice too, but he is of the opinion that they youngsters are just not interested nor are ready to handle the dedication and discipline that comes the profession.
“I felt it was my duty to pass on my skills to the young people here, but after a while I realized that youths these days are not ready to handle the discipline that comes with certain choices of trade. I even tried to open a small gym at my home to train them but after a while they just lost interest in the whole thing. I don’t blame them too, because boxing does not really pay an individual well in Guyana, and one needs finances to get themselves together to attain international ratings in this field”.
However, Halley will indeed take up the mantle of the youths show genuine interest and teach them all he knows since ‘a fire burns within him to impart his skills and knowledge’. He will reopen his gym and offered extensive training for youths providing the pay a small entrance fee and monthly donations to keep the gym functional.
Halley is the father of five children all of who resides in the Unite States of America (USA)
Halley should be remembered as the Guyanese son that took Guyana to great heights in the boxing fraternity, and should be acknowledged publicly for his many accomplishments. He advises budding boxers to be self disciplined and dedicated, stay away from drugs, and resist the night life.