… Next assignment is Morocco next month
By Sean Devers
TWENTY-three-year-old Olympian Keevin Allicock was relentless in orchestrating the demise of Suriname’s Samuel Greene for the Featherweight title at the Terrence Ali National Open Boxing Championships on Sunday.
The 27-year-old from Guyana’s Dutch neighbour to the East was given six standing 8-counts but was determined to continue fighting.
“He (Greene) is strong and young in the business and very courageous in going the distance with an Olympian,” Allicock said after the contest.
The lightning-fast pugilist who grew up in the heart of the ‘Ghetto’ in Albouystown said the Dutch boxer, many times left himself open for shots.
“I never tried to knock him out but was working on the speed in my punches … putting in practice what we were doing in the gym,” added Allicock who attended the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, the first for a Guyanese boxer since John Douglas qualified in 1996.
“I hurt him several times while I was never hurt, but he showed lots of courage in that fight. I wish him all the best and I think he is good enough to do well in this sport,” continued the 2017 silver medallist at the Commonwealth Youth Games. He is one of 20 siblings.
Keevin, one of five brothers to have represented Guyana in boxing,
Allicock looked way above the other local boxers and many feel that in order for him to improve he needs to fight good overseas boxers.
A firm believer in God, Allicock joined the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) at age 15 under coach Sebert Blake and has been there ever since.
He credits Cuban boxing coach, Francisco Hernandez Roland, for teaching a lot of the finer points of boxing when he was in Cuba training for the Olympics.
Allicock knows the importance of overseas experience and exposure to better boxers.
“I will enjoy the Christmas season in Guyana before I leave for Morocco next month for my 2023 season,” said Allicock whose last overseas trip was for the Commonwealth Games.
He is scheduled to participate in the Golden Belt Series from January 31 to February 12.