-Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate set for this weekend

LOCAL amateur boxers will have a busy few weeks ahead as they prepare for the Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate Championships and the National Open, which are both set for October.

The Intermediate Championships is billed for this weekend (from Friday to Sunday) at the National Gymnasium, while the National Open is tentatively set for the end of next month.
The three-day battle was originally expected to be held over the weekend, but was pushed forward to facilitate the now postponed Pro Am Card, which was scheduled for last Saturday at Durban Park.

According to President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle, this weekend’s event would involve gyms from across the country.

The Guyana Defence Force is the defending champion, but they should expect challenges from Forgotten Youth Foundation, Pocket Rocket, Young Achievers, Harpy Eagles, Rose Hall Jammers and Winston Pompey Warriors Gym, among others.
Entrance fee per night is $500.

Ninvalle added that Guyana is focused on sending a well-prepared side to Trinidad for its most challenging Caribbean Boxing Championships to date and aims to use the National Open to select the side.

“We would want that national squad to have at least one month of encampment because of the fact that the Caribbean Championships will be having some countries who usually don’t participate… We expected the opposition to be tougher, so we got to have our boxers well prepared.”

This year, the regional body decided to invite four Latin American nations, including powerhouse Cuba, who have produced several world and Olympic champions.
Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are also expected to field boxers for the December 4-9 competition.