A smartly dressed five-man team of four boxers and one official left Guyana Friday afternoon for Tijuana, Mexico to participate in the Pan Am Qualifiers.Local AIBA Three Star coach Sebert Blake will take charge of Middleweight Dennis Thomas, junior welterweight Jason Phillips, lightweight Dewani Lampkin and bantamweight Dellon Charles while in Mexico.
There was some uncertainty regarding the entire team’s participation but a last minute pitch to the Government of Guyana bore fruit.
Guyana Boxing Association President Steve Ninvalle revealed that one ticket to Tijuana cost in excess of US$1,700 (G$350,000) through Muneshwar’s Travel Agency.
The entire trip inclusive of accommodation will cost US$11,500 (G$2.3M). The team was scheduled to be in Tijuana yesterday afternoon. Competition in the Qualifiers begins on Thursday.
USA based super heavyweight `Quincy `Biggy’ Small was originally a part of the team but fell ill last week.
The four boxers endured a two- week encampment at the Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis gym where they fine-tuned skills before departing for Mexico.
According to Ninvalle, the Guyana Olympic Association through its president K. Juman Yassin was the first to offer support to get the boxers to the qualifiers.
The GBA president pointed out that Yassin has always been accommodating when approached. Ninvalle also thanked Minister of Education with responsibility for Sport Dr. Rupert Roopnanrine, the Guyana Lotto Company, Monty Proffit of Trustee’s Pawn Shop, Jermain’s Enterprise, Mike’s Pharmacy, Fazal Habibulla for making the trip possible.