JAMAICA has become the second country to signal its participation at the region’s first International Schoolboys and Junior Boxing Tournament.President of the Jamaica Boxing Association, Stephen Jones, on Monday confirmed that the Land of Wood and Water would be sending a team to the event which is scheduled to be held in Guyana from April 29 to 30.
Jamaica now joins St Lucia which pledged support for the tournament last week. The St Lucian Amateur Boxing Association’s (SLABA) confirmation was received via an email. The GABA is now awaiting responses from Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
The Schoolboys and Juniors Tournament is being held at a time when GABA and other CARICOM countries have pledged to put more focus on the nursery of the sport. The April affair would mark the second time within five months that the local association will host an international event.
It comes on the heels of the Caribbean Development Tournament held last November. That competition saw 13 countries from the Caribbean and South America participate.
Meanwhile, 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 for 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