…Prize Money for Gold, Silver & Bronze in each division

By Sean Devers
FOR the first time in Guyana prize money will be up for grabs in an amateur boxing card when the Guyana Boxing Association(GBA) holds it final boxing card for the year.

The Terrence Ali National Open Championship will return for the first time since the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down all sports in 2019 with the card set for the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue from December 15-18.

Named after the 62-year-old former lightweight boxing stalwart, Ali fought for his first world title in 1985 against Harry Arroyo for the IBF World Lightweight Title but was knocked out.

Ali, famous for his back-flicks and wearing the Guyana Flag proudly on his trunks, lost to Frank Olsen in the last of his 70 Professional fights in 1997 after winning 52, losing 15 and drawing two with 25 KO’s to his name.

“The esteemed event, which is the final statutory competition by the GBA, will provide the perfect culmination for an eventful year for the sport.

In an effort to further solidify the tournament’s eminence following the aforesaid absence, and to continue the discipline’s developmental thrust, the local governing authority will financially compensate the top three finishers within each weight class of the Elite Division. The former Americas Boxing Association (AMBC) Vice-President said “Essentially, the Elite Division, the crème de crème of the local amateur circuit, will receive financial remunerations for finishing in the top three positions: gold, silver, and bronze.

This momentous decision was inspired by and comes on the heels of the historic move by the International Boxing Association (IBA) under the stewardship of Umar Kremlev, to increase the prize pool by a mammoth 50% for the 2023 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from May 1st-14th.

With this decision, Guyana becomes the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean that will financially compensate its Elite amateur pugilists at the National Championship” explained Ninvalle, who was appointed Guyana’s Director of Sport in May last year.

“Once again, this is indicative of the GBA’s developmental aim in creating not only an enabling environment for the development of the discipline but to maintain the nation’s position as the premier amateur hub in the English-speaking Caribbean region” Ninvalle continued.

Ninvalle, who is the architect of this novel idea, said, “This is a momentous decision by the local body, a choice which was guided and influenced directly by IBA’s resolution and eventual pronouncement to increase the prize pool for the 2023 World Championship. Amateur boxing at the international level is on the pathway to competitive and financial sustainability given the actions of IBA, and the GBA aims to employ a similar ideology and objective.”

He further said, “This is a first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, a feat that should be recognised and is the initial step on the path of creating, and contributing to a financial ecosystem for local pugilists. We are now firmly part and parcel of the fabric and environment that IBA is aiming to conceptualize for the future direction of the discipline. This is another spectacular day for the discipline.”

‘Dynamite’ Desmond Amsterdam, who is the highest ranked local IBA pugilist at #23, following his outstanding displays at the Commonwealth Games, as well as bronze medal achievement at the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Championship, and South American Games, will headline the event, alongside 54th ranked Keevin Allicock, who also captured a bronze medal at the South American Games” the GBA Head concluded.

Future details of the tournament, inclusive of the financial compensations that will be afforded to the resulting gold, silver, and bronze medallists, will be disclosed soon.