THE seventh edition of Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schools Boys and Girls Boxing Tournament got off to a rollicking start at the National Gymnasium on Friday night after an impressive opening ceremony.
Hosts and six-time defending Champions Guyana suffered mixed fortunes on the opening night of the three-night Event which was held in a brand new boxing ring compliments of Guyana’s Government.
The Dutch nation of Suriname and the 108 square-mile island of Antigua made their debuts while Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia and Grenada were back again to attempt to dethrone Guyana whose 30-member squad was the biggest ever in the developmental tournament which is the brainchild of Director of Sport and President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle.

While the Gymnasium was not capacity-filled, the atmosphere was aided by the raucous support for the local boxers, pulsating rhythms from the sound system and enthusiastic drumming by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Band Corps.
Watched by a gathering which included the President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Godfrey Munroe, NSC’s Vice-President Cristy Campbell, the world-ranked Jackman sisters, Guyana’s only Olympic Medalist Mike Parris and the families of the young overseas pugilists, this year’s tournament was largest in terms of participating nations.
In his address, Ninvalle thanked the Government, President Irfaan Ali; Sports Minister, Charles Ramson and GOA for their support and the many corporate sponsors.

“It does not matter who wins… this is a tournament for the development of our young Caribbean boxers…it’s the nursery of our boxing,” said Ninvalle who recently, accompanied by three Presidents of Caribbean Boxing Associations, attended a meeting with International Boxing Association (IBA).
Also speaking at the opening ceremony were James Beckles, the only three-star referee/judge in the Caribbean, President of the SLBA David ‘Shakes’ Christopher and NSC member Frankie Wilson who performed the ring announcer’s duties. The night began with a schoolboy 37kg bout between local boxers Rayon France who was defeated by Kenroy Klass with 13-year-old Jumain Moore, the youngest referee in the Caribbean making his debut in the ring.

In the second Schoolboy fight, Guyana’s Shemroy Holder beat his countryman Harald Waldron. In the Junior 66kg Barbadian Jaquan Grant dominated Guyanese Antonio Stephen as he demonstrated superior boxing skills.
The Bajan connected with the cleaner shots and showed good defence when Stephen counter-punched and such was his confidence that Grant dropped his hands and showboated.

In the final bout of the night, a brilliant boxing display from Guyana’s Chance Niles against St Lucian Orlando Moore had his supporters on their feet and dancing in the stands.
Niles unleashed a barrage of shots to his opponent’s body and head which were set up by very fast jabs and the drums from the GDF Band Corps were rolling.
The very confident Niles showed his dance moves while waiting for the verdict and riled up his fans in the stands to start chanting his name. The Guyanese exulted when the referee raised his hand.

In the youth category, Trinidadian Neraj Mahadeosingh won by RSC in the first round against Suriname’s Valentino Artist in the 57kg division while Suriname’s Chael Maine beat St Lucia’s Donali Cooman in the 60kg fight. Harve Charlemanene from St Lucia defeated T&T’s Zade Williams in the Junior 66kg while T&T’s Makieve Bellielle beat Denzel Stephen from St Lucia in the 63kg weight class.
In the Junior 80kg division, Bajan Carl Reid beat St Lucian Lammend Alexander in slug-feast.

The tournament is being sponsored by the Government of Guyana, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Guyana Olympic Association, Bounty Farm, John Fernandes Limited, Secure Innovation and Concepts, Ernest Dunlop, Delmur Shipping, Games Xpress, Hits and Jams Radio, Enet, Star Party Rental, Antarctic Maintenance and Repairs, Mrs Mayfield Ninvalle and Khalsan PR Inc.