THE recently concluded Caribbean Developing Boxing Tournament (CDBT) has been hailed as great success that has cleared the path for meaningful development of the sport in the region
. Administrators from around CARICOM are applauding the Guyana Boxing Association(GBA) for delivering when first choice host Aruba abruptly pulled out.Guyana saw one hundred and thirty five boxers and 40 officials from 13 countries assembled here just over a week ago for what was dubbed as the Caribbean Boxing Tsunami. President of the Jamaica Boxing Association Stephen O. Jones has recommended that what took place in Guyana be a blue print to be used across the region.
“When the Jamaica Boxing Association first got word that Guyana was taking up the mantle for hosting the first Caribbean Development Tournament we were ecstatic because we knew what an initiative such as this could mean for boxing in our region,” Jones said.
“We have been working very closely with Guyana Boxing Association so we had no doubt that they would host a successful event but we had no idea that it would have been this successful. They (GBA) have really created a blueprint from which the other Caribbean Nations can follow as our boxers, coaches and officials came back home raving about the level of competition, all they had learned and how they were treated,” added Jones.
“Kudos to the Guyana Boxing President Mr. Steve Ninvalle and the rest of the team members of his association for a job very well done and I look forward to the day where Jamaica can host and do the same as the bar has now been set,” Jones concluded.
President of the St. Lucia Boxing Association David `Shakes’ Christopher, admitted that he was driven to tears during the tournament after seeing members of the Republican Gym in action.
“The opportunity that was presented for such a large part of the Caribbean family to be brought together should be cherished. It brought tears to my eyes to see the prisoners from Guyana being allowed to participate in an international competition. I am suggesting that members of the Caribbean Community take their hats off to my brother Steve Ninvalle and his executives for a job well done,” Christopher reasoned.
His sentiments were echoed by President of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association Cecil Ford who in an emailed message acknowledged that the tournament was a great success and set the initiative for the future.
The Caribbean Development Boxing Tournament saw participation from Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Jamaica , St Maarten, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.
A four-day referee and judges seminar was conducted by AIBA Three Star Referee/Judge James Beckles prior to the tournament.