GUYANA Boxing Association (GBA) president Steve Ninvalle revealed that Guyana will play host to the Senior Caribbean Boxing Championship, from December 6 – 9 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Ninvalle explained that his association stands more to benefit from hosting rather than sending a team to a sister CARICOM state to participate in the competition, adding that “we (Guyana) were the champions in 2015 and 2016 but in 2017 Guyana was forced to surrender that title because we lacked the necessary finance to send a full team to St Lucia.

 In fact, we were only able to send four boxers. In 2016, we sent 11 boxers and came back with 10 golds and one silver.”

“With us hosting, all of our fighters (both elite and youth) will have a chance of competing. In addition, our referee/judges are afforded another chance at international competition. It is roughly US$1200 per person to attend an overseas Caribbean Championship.  If we should compete in all divisions at elite and youth and also participate in the female categories, then we are looking at a minimum of 26 athletes. Add three coaches, two referee/judges and a manager and the math becomes clearer” Ninvalle said.

The GBA has also started negotiations to have an International Technical Official (ITO) course and one for doctors, run prior to the championships, since according to Ninvalle, “there are no certified ITOs in Guyana and very few in the Caribbean.  Having one of our own being successful at any of the two courses would be a plus for us.”

Guyana has just completed the successful hosting of the third edition of the Caribbean School Boys and Juniors tournament and the GBA president noted that the Terrence Alli National Open has been brought forward by one week to facilitate early encampment of the national team.

“The National Open is now scheduled for November 16th, 17th and 18th.  A national team will be selected one day after and encampment will follow. Our goal is to have the strongest team possible so that the Caribbean Title will once again return to Guyana.”