THE chance of a Guyanese boxer qualifying for next month’s Pan Am Games evaporated last Saturday when middleweight Dennis `The Menace’ Thomas lost to Raul Sanchez of the Dominican Republic. Thomas went down 3-0 to Sanchez in the quarter-finals held in Tijuana, Mexico to bring an end to Guyana’s participation in the Pan Am Qualifier. Guyana was pinning hopes on Thomas who defeated Trinidadian Aaron Prince in his opening fight.
Earlier in the competition bantamweight Delon Charles, lightweight Dewani Lampkin and junior welterweight Jason Phillips all lost by 3-0 margins. 18-year-old Lampkin is the baby of the team while Phillips is 19 years old.
In an invited comment manager/coach Sebert Blake declared that despite the results, the four-member team performed creditably. Blake said that in his mind Thomas was a clear winner but the judges saw it differently.
“We have suffered loses yes, but I think that these young boxers showed heart, courage and skill against opponents who were much more experienced,” the coach said.
“It is a first for most of the guys. This has shown that we have the technical and tactical ability. However, we need to have frequent attendance at competitions at this level so that our fighters would be exposed to gain experience and confidence.“
Blake pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago sent a 10-member team with many of its members having undergone extensive training in Cuba but was only able to have one boxer qualify. “The boxers who qualified had earned a bye into the semifinals,” the coach revealed while adding that the Twin-Island Republic’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Michael Alexander was thrown out in his first fight.
Team Guyana were encamped at the Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis gym two weeks prior to departing for Mexico. “I would recommend that we keep this present crop of fighters together. They are young, have the technical and tactical ability but need the experience,” Blake noted.
The locals are expected back home tomorrow.