THE St Lucian Amateur Boxing Association(SLABA) has said yes to an invitation from the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) to participate in the region’s first International Schoolboys and Junior tournament. This was conveyed in an email by head of the SLABA David `Shakes’ Christopher.The email was sent to GABA president Steve Ninvalle on Thursday confirming that St Lucia would be having a team at the April 29-30 event. St Lucia is expected to join three other CARICOM states to arrive here for the tournament. The other countries are Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
GABA has named Sebert Blake as the coach of a 40-man squad shortlisted to prepare for April. The squad has three females in Akea Lamazone, Rianna Rogers and Rondessa Bagot all of whom hail from the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym in Linden.
Eleven members of the shortlisted squad are from the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym in Albouystown, while 10 fighters will represent the Essequibo Gym, run by Clifton Moore.
Essequibo was crowned Champion Gym at the last DDL Under-16 competition and leading its charge would be the talented Shaquancy Wright, a member of Team Guyana at last year’s Caribbean Development Tournament.
The International Schoolboys and Juniors competition is scheduled at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and it is said to be the first of its kind in the Region. The shortlisted boxers are:
Forgotten Youth Foundation: Seon Griffith, Stephon Smith, Orin Bancroft, Jamie Kellman, Dwayne Baptiste, Sean Graham, Travis Inverary, Shakiem Jones, Brian Harris, Orin Harris and Shamar Bumbury.

Essequibo: Shaquincy Wright, Delroy Elcock, Deron Williams, Quancy Wright, Junior Hyman, Deshon Elcock, Shaquille Wright, Christopher Moore, Shaka Moore and Akiel Mounter.
Harpy Eagles: Akeem Ali, Deandre Linton, Joseph Semple, Kevon Mulling, Kevin Allicock and Travis Hubbard.
Pocket Rocket: Akea Lamazone, Rianna Rogers and Rondessa Bagot, Herman White, Joel Allicock and Duel Augustine.
Guyana Defence Force: Quincy Boyce and Kevin Walton.
Carryl Boxing Gym: Joshua Corbin and Mohammad Bacchus
Rose Hall Jammers: Jamal Eastman.
New Opportunity Corps: Kevin Griffith and Nicko Jodha