THE Savannah Boxing Gym will be represented by its `Golden Girl’ Julicia Rodney when the first-ever Patrick Ford Memorial Open punches off at the National Gymnasium on February 25.

The 15-year-old Pride of Region Nine will be accompanied by fellow boxer Troy Nero and coach Trevor Austin when the Guyana Boxing Association/McDonald Promotion-organised event takes place.
Rodney sprang to prominence late last year when the GBA held its final Pepsi Michael Parris Under-16 competition at the Andrew `Sixhead’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown.

With less than a month since being introduced to the sport, Rodney has won a close, but hard-fought three-rounder against the more experienced Abiola Jackman of Forgotten Youth Foundation in the middleweight category.
The two female pugilists will again match gloves this coming Sunday in one of 14 fights on the card. According to GBA president Steve Ninvalle both Rodney and Jackman have been improving their skills.

“Miss Jackman is being trained by Mr Sebert Blake, the man responsible for us having a silver medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games. He is dedicated, a disciplinarian and someone who has been turning out champions for years. He understands where they may have gone wrong last year and at the moment is putting on the finishing touches on a fighter who is expected to be well prepared,” Ninvalle said.

“On the other hand, Miss Rodney comes from a region of natural athletes. Her trainers are enthused by the fact that fitness is not a problem for the young fighter and many others from Region Nine. However, getting to the skill level of opponents on the coast will take some time as they have only just started,” Ninvalle added.

The Savannah Gym was formed last year after Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton sent coach Orland Rogers to Region Nine for a two-week stint.
The main event of the Patrick Ford Memorial Open will see Caribbean light welterweight champion Colin `Superman’ Lewis battle `Furious’ Nathan Ferrari of St Lucia in the main event.

The main supporting fight is a clash between Youth Commonwealth Games silver medallist `Lightning’ Keevin Allicock and Trinidadian bantamweight champion Christopher DeFreitas.
Tickets cost $1 000 for stands and $1 500 for ringside.