THE Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has confirmed that star pugilists Desmond Amsterdam and Keevin Allicock will represent Guyana at the 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships, set for December 2–13 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The event, which forms part of the International Boxing Association (IBA)’s two-week festival of boxing, marks a significant return for the pair, who are determined to improve on their previous outing at the sport’s premier global competition.

According to GBA president Steve Ninvalle, both Amsterdam and Allicock symbolise not only the highest standard of boxing in Guyana, but the very best the Caribbean has to offer. “These two athletes reflect the elite level of our sport. They are among the best in the Region, and we are confident they will give a strong account of themselves in Dubai,” Ninvalle affirmed.
Allicock, an Olympian and one of the top talents in Guyana’s current generation of fighters, enters the World Championships with renewed focus. Amsterdam, meanwhile, stands as one of the most accomplished boxers in the Americas, picking up a historic bronze at the AMBC Elite Championships, the first ever for Guyana.
Both boxers recently transitioned into the professional ranks, but Ninvalle believes their experience, discipline, and hunger
for success will serve them well on the amateur world stage.
“They have competed with and defeated world-class opponents before. We expect them to rise to the occasion against the best in the world in Dubai,” he stated.
The GBA president also highlighted the Association’s continued commitment to its athletes, noting that supporting Amsterdam
and Allicock’s World Championships campaign is part of a broader effort to create clear pathways to excellence.
“We promised to stand with our boxers, and we continue to honour that commitment. Providing opportunities like this is
essential to their growth and success,” Ninvalle said. Adding even greater motivation is the tournament’s groundbreaking prize structure, with IBA offering US$300,000 for gold, US$150,000 for silver, US$75,000 for bronze, and US$10,000 for fifth-place finishers.
Ninvalle applauded the IBA for introducing prize money at this level, calling it a life-changing opportunity for athletes. “IBA’s
prize money initiative is transformative. It gives fighters like Allicock and Amsterdam additional incentive to push harder, knowing what is at stake, not just for themselves, but for their families and their futures,” he said.
The 2025 Championships will also commemorate IBA’s 75-year legacy, accompanied by the IBA Business Forum on December12 and the IBA Congress on December 13, creating a landmark week for the sport.