IN their final tournament for the year, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will host the Terrence Alli Open Championship at the National Gymnasium, from December 16 to 18.

According to president of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, the Championship is a prerequisite for selection on the team to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Championship which will be held here from December 6 to 9.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) are the reigning champions, but as usual, stiff competition is expected from the Republican Gym, Forgotten Youth Foundation, Linden and Rose Hall Jammers.

With Rose Hall Jammers’ Joel Williamson turning pro, there will be a new champion in the lightweight division and Jamal Eastman seems the likely candidate to stake claim to the title.

Eastman is the nephew of the ‘Battersea Bomber’ Howard Eastman and, like his uncle, has quick hands. At the Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate Boxing Championships, Eastman stopped Andrew Griffith just one minute 47 seconds (1:47) into the first round of their lightweight clash and showed off his hard-hitting skills.