… ‘Sons of Champions’ boxing card

THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), in collaboration with Briso Promotions yesterday launched a Boxing Night card labelled `Sons of Champions’ that is set for December 26 at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, beginning at 19:00hrs.

According to GBA’s president Steve Ninvalle, boxing promoter and nephew of Guyana’s former Commonwealth welterweight champion, Kenny Bristol, last year proposed to stage such a card, but because the Guyana Boxing Board of Control had planned a professional card for the same date, the GBA decided to abandon their plans.

With no professional card planned for this year’s Boxing Day, the GBA decided to take up Bristol on his promise to stage the event, hence the birth of the card.
Bristol, in brief remarks, said for many years he has been attending an annual Boxing Night card at the National Park as well as the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and it was always his intention to continue the trend of having a boxing card on the said date and today, it has come to fruition.

“I’m here to keep my promise,” the United States-based Guyanese promoter stated, adding, “There are many sons of former champions that made Guyana proud over the years and I want to help showcase those former champions’ sons who I think will make Guyana proud.”.
Present at yesterday’s launch was Alex Murray, son of former Commonwealth champion Andrew Murray who died in an accident on the Linden Highway approximately 10 years ago.

Alex Murray is following in his father’s footsteps and will be on this year’s Boxing Night card.
The young Murray said since he was a youth, he wanted to be a boxer and was inspired by his father. He thanked Bristol for giving him the opportunity to be a part of the December 26 event.

Ninvalle said amateur boxing in Guyana is on the rise and it will continue its upward trend and “hopefully, by 2020 or 2024, amateur boxing will give Guyana its first Olympic gold medal.

Ninvalle, however, noted that for Guyana to secure that elusive Olympic gold medal, Corporate Guyana needs to lend its support.
“I can say without contradiction, we (GBA) are the best sports association in Guyana,” Ninvalle declared.