FORMER amateur boxer-turned-promoter Seon Bristol is collaborating with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) to realize a boxing card during the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations. The USA-based Bristol believes that boxing must be included in the celebrations, because of its large and important contribution to Guyana over the last five decades.
“The sport has done so much for Guyana and will continue to do our nation proud. It is only fitting that we have such a competition be it big or small. We owe it to the sport,” Bristol said from his home in Brooklyn yesterday.
“I have said before that it would be an injustice to the sport not to have a boxing event around this time. I have spoken to the president of the GABA (Steve Ninvalle) and he quickly concurred. I’ll be in Guyana shortly to wrap up arrangements,” Bristol added.
The competition is scheduled for May 28. However, a decision on the venue would be made today. “We are aiming to have this competition outdoors. It’s for the people to come and see boxing. To see where we are as a nation and where we plan to go. However, the inclement weather may force us to go indoors. The sure thing is that regardless of indoors or outdoors we will have boxing.”
When contacted, GABA president Steve Ninvalle said that the proposed card would include only amateurs and the main focus is youth, juniors and schoolboys. Ninvalle disclosed that GABA Technical Director Terrence Poole and Chairman of the GABA Coaches Commission, Sebert Blake, have been tasked with formulating the card.
“It is short notice but we welcome the gesture of Mr Bristol who has over the years been a staunch supporter of the sport,” Ninvalle said.
Bristol is the nephew of former Commonwealth junior middleweight champion Kenny Bristol and has indicated that his uncle and Lennox Blackmoore, Guyana’s first Commonwealth champion would be advisers for the success of the card.