A group of talented boxers from Guyana is preparing to embark on a journey to St. Lucia, where they will participate in the Senior Caribbean Boxing Championships. Their goal is to reclaim the prestigious overall title, which has not been won by Guyana since 2018. The championships are scheduled to take place from Thursday, February 27, to Thursday, March 3. Currently, 20 pugilists from Guyana are undergoing rigorous training under the guidance of experienced coaches including Francisco Roldan, Lennox Daniels, Clifton Moore, and Jeff Roberts.

In a recent discussion about the event, GBA President Steve Ninvalle expressed optimism about the team’s prospects, stating, “Guyana is very focused on winning the Caribbean Championships, which is why we have assembled a large team for training. We aim to send a strong contingent to St. Lucia to bring back the title.”

Among the promising talents representing Guyana are three world-ranked fighters: Keevin Allicock, Desmond Amsterdam, and Abiola Jackman. Ninvalle highlighted their achievements, noting that Jackman is ranked 29th in the world in the female heavyweight elite category, while Amsterdam holds a similar ranking in the light heavyweight division. Allicock is also well-ranked among featherweights. Additionally, Ninvalle mentioned the inclusion of Shaquain James, a rising star who has recently joined the elite ranks and is considered one of the best prospects in the Caribbean.

The Guyana Boxing Association will also be represented by two referee-judges and their only ITO, Mr. Elton Chase, at the championships. Ninvalle conveyed his high expectations for the team in training, emphasizing the dual purpose of this preparation phase. He noted, “We expect our team to perform exceptionally well because they are training hard. This will serve as an early indicator, especially with the female World Championships coming up next month in Serbia, where Abiola Jackman will represent Guyana.”

The current training roster includes Desmond Amsterdam, Keevin Allicock, Abiola Jackman, Leon Albert, Septon Barton, Quince Boyce, Clifton Graham, Travis Inverary, Shaquain James, Dwayne July, Colin Lewis, Orlando Norton, Emma Noel Pompey, Ronaldo Sutton, Zidan Wray, and Joel Williamson, along with Keyon Britton, Lennox Lawrence, Ken Harvey, and Tofina Barker. The anticipation builds as these athletes work diligently to achieve success in the upcoming championships.