FORMER Caribbean Super heavyweight champion Jason ‘AK 47’ Barker makes his return to the ring on Sunday evening after a period of incarceration.

Barker, who learnt to box in prison while serving time for robbery under arms, is out on parole. He would be the main attraction for the Guyana Boxing Association’s opening meet for 2020.

The outdoor bout, which is slated for the tarmac of the National Gymnasium, is the first such event in five years.
According to president of the GBA Steve Ninvalle, boxers from gyms across the country should be a part of the action.

The highlight though would be the return of ‘AK 47’, who is set to battle national heavyweight champion Darren France. Barker, who had won the regional title in 2016, was initially sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2008 at the age of 20.

When he represented Guyana in Barbados a few years ago, he was still serving his sentence, but was allowed to compete; once back home, he returned to prison. Barker has been a model inmate and during an interview with Chronicle Sport in 2017 (the same year he was nominated for Sportsman of the Year), had noted that his entire outlook on life had changed.

He said that he regretted his previous actions. “I’m a change man; I’m not the same person that walked into this jail. Boxing saved me and I want to repay the people who believed in me, to give me this chance to show the world my talent, especially my coach and president (Steve) Ninvalle.”

Some 14 bouts are scheduled for the meet with a number of boxers from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) and the Rose Hall Jammers, among others, expected to compete.

Ninvalle said that the meet will keep the boxers in action between now and National Novices, which is scheduled for April.
Overall, the GBA head noted that 2020 would be a packed year for the sport.