GUYANA’s Imran ‘Magic’ Khan, Clairmont Gibson, Bert Braithwaite, Eon Bancroft and Dennis Thomas were all victorious on the opening night of the Guyana Boxing Association, Guyana Olympic Association International Goodwill tournament.The event which features participation from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and St Lucia, officially got on the way on Friday evening, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Of the six Guyanese fighters on show on the opening night, all eyes were on Khan, Bancroft and Thomas, since they will represent the Land of Many Waters at next month’s South American Games in Chile.

Khan, who fights out of the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym is said to be one the country’s brightest stars in Amateur Boxing and he delivered as promised against Jamaica’s Patrick Sahadeo, whom he sent sprawling to the canvas in the final round of their 60kg weight-class clash.

Henry won on points against Trinidad and Tobago’s Akmal Stroude and so did Braithwaite, Bancroft and Thomas who won against Trinidad’s Jean Paul Cooper, St. Lucia’s Ron Bastien and Arthur Langelier, respectively.

Trinidadian Michael Alexander handed Gibson an easy win after he was disqualified, while Guyana’s Ron Smith, fighting under the 69kg weight-class, fell to the Twin Island Republic’s Akeil Outram on unanimous decision.

There were also five local fights on the night’s thirteen bout card.

For the first time in Guyana, amateur fighters stepped into the ring without headgear and it was also the first time the new computerised scoring system was used, being controlled by James Beckles AIBA’s Certified Referee/Judge.

The tournament continued last night and will conclude tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Ring time is 18:30 hrs and admission is $500.