IN the last Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboy & Girls C/Ships held at the National Gymnasium, Guyana won their sixth consecutive title, while 12-year-old Jumaine Moore became the youngest Boxing Judge in the Caribbean.
On Saturday last at the Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown, the Hope Secondary School student joined his father, Rudolph George Moore, in the ring as a Referee in the Mike Parris Schoolboys and Schoolgirls inter-club boxing tournament.
Young Moore was born on May 16, 2011 at the Georgetown Public Hospital to Rudolph and Valita Moore, and attended the Nabaclis Nursery School, then the North Georgetown Primary School before entering secondary school.
Moore, who says he is doing great at school, explained how his interest in being a judge was ignited.
“I used to hear my dad speaking about judging and refereeing, and I got interested. My dad came home one night and said a boxing seminar is coming up, and asked if I was interested. I was very excited to have such an opportunity,” said the youngster, who plays football at school.
According to the pre-teen, the process of becoming a judge is very simple; all you need do is take an evaluation and a written examination and pass both.
“It is an honour to be the youngest boxing judge in the Caribbean; my goal in being a judge is to judge matches fairly, and don’t have no favourites when judging a bout. I would like to be an International Referee in the future,” said young Jumaine, who enjoys playing games in his leisure time.
The previous youngest judge in the Caribbean was a Trinidadian, who is now 19, but made his debut at 13.
“I would also like to thank everyone, especially my mom, dad and brothers for supporting me in this journey,” Jumaine said in closing.