FORMER lightweight and junior welterweight world-rater Terrence Alli has been honoured by the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association which has named this year’s National Open competition after him.The competition, which is being sponsored by the National Sports Commission and Queensway Security Service Inc., kicked off yesterday at the Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis gym in Albouystown, continues today with 13 fights and concludes tomorrow.
President of the GABA, Steve Ninvalle, said that the executive was forced to shift to the gym as the East Ruimveldt Community Centre ground was not available. He noted that the shift may not have gone down well with a few but the show “needed to go on”.
“The point is that we have an international competition coming up later this month. A prerequisite for being selected to represent Guyana is participation in the National Open. So, after all things were considered, the Andrew Lewis gym was selected.”
Following the conclusion of the National Open a squad will be selected for encampment. Alli, who campaigned in the lightweight and junior welterweight divisions, allowed Guyana’s flag to fly high during the 1980s and early 1990s.
He thrice challenged for world titles and made frequent appearances on international television network ESPN. This year, GABA has honoured several former boxers by naming tournaments after them.
The National Novices was named after Guyana’s first World champion Andrew Lewis while the nation’s first Commonwealth champion Lennox Blackmoore had his name added to the National Intermediate competition.
The Under-16 competition is now known as the Pepsi Michael Parris competition in honour of Guyana’s first and only Olympic medallist.