-Terrence Alli National Open

THE Police Gym and the Guyana Defence Force Gym have unfinished business inside the ring and settlement may come at the Terrence Alli National Open boxing tournament which runs from Tuesday to Thursday at the National Gymnasium.

Up first on the flaming- hot agenda is a possible clash between two of the best middleweights in the Caribbean. Police sergeant Dennis Thomas is seeking to reclaim his authority over the division which of late is being controlled by Desmond Amsterdam of the Guyana Defence Force.
Second in line is another possible match-up between Policeman Diwani Lampkin and GDF’s Colin `Superman’ Lewis who was recently rechristened `Terror Incognito’ by Guyana Boxing Association president Steve Ninvalle.

Thomas is arguably the most experienced AIBA Open boxer (formerly amateur) in Guyana at the moment, having represented Guyana at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Qualifiers, South American Games and the Caribbean Development Tournament.

He reached the quarter finals of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and was adjudged Best Boxer at the four-nation Goodwill Games held right here in Guyana.
At the first Caribbean Development Tournament held in Guyana in November 2015, the talented middleweight boxer was on the verge of winning a gold medal but received a dubious decision against a Jamaican in the final.

Amsterdam on the other hand has made hay while the sun shone. While Thomas absented himself from the sport for unknown reasons, the stocky Amsterdam travelled to Barbados to represent Guyana at the 2016 Caribbean Championships.

He remained undefeated in three fights and returned home with a well-earned gold medal, something that is missing from Thomas’ collection. While the Police Sergeant would have defeated the soldier at the last National Open, Amsterdam gained revenge less than three months later during a BrisMac Promotion card at the Gymnasium in February 2017.

Then Amsterdam turned back the challenge of Thomas and after a no holds barred slugfest between the two warriors, was adjudged the winner of their bout.
Thomas had scored a victory over Amsterdam in an earlier tournament and oozed confidence as he attempted to replicate the feat. He was obviously surprised as the soldier attacked from the first bell, landing some telling blows while Thomas attempted to assert himself. The two exchanged bombs mid-ring much to the enjoyment of a screaming, jubilant crowd. The two gladiators went after each other in the third round and had the crowd on its feet and in the end, Amsterdam was adjudged the winner.

“If my opinion is solicited then I will have to say that these two boxers have produced the most epic battles locally. It would be an early Christmas gift if I should have the honour of seeing them have another go at it.” Ninvalle said.
In order to better his chances of topping the soldier, Thomas has sought the services of coach Sebert Blake of the Forgotten Youth Foundation gym. Amsterdam has stayed with his trusted and tested coach, Terrence Poole.

While Lampkin has been out of action for a year, Lewis, the nephew of Guyana’s first world champion Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis, has improved leaps and bounds during the same time period. Last month he was part of a four-man team that travelled to Jamaica and left the home fans with their mouths ajar after a sublime performance.

Reports have stated that Lampkin is also being trained by Sebert Blake and is eager to match gloves with the gangly and reigning national light welterweight champion.
“It is another scorcher in the making and these are just the middleweight and light welterweight divisions we are talking about. We still have the lightweight, light heavyweight and several others,” Ninvalle added.

The Terrence Alli National Open is the GBA’s last statutory competition for the year and is expected to see over 55 boxers participating. Fight time is 19.00hrs each night.