The National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue will come alive this weekend when the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) stages its National Intermediate Championships and Caribbean Games Box-Off.

The two events will run simultaneously over three nights starting on Friday and, according to national coach Clifton Moore, a large turnout is expected.

“We anticipate at least 16 gyms competing,” said Moore who along with president of GABA, Affeeze Khan, visited Stabroek Sport yesterday.

Khan disclosed that gyms from Berbice, Essequibo, Linden, Port Kaituma, and the East Coast and East Bank Demerara will participate.

According to Moore only boxers who have not won nor reached the final of a National Open Championships can take part.

Khan added that some of the boxers have been training twice daily on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the two upcoming events.

The GABA had earlier short-listed 10 boxers to prepare for the Caribbean Games which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago in July but Moore yesterday said that the association had been given until June 11 to name the final squad.

Guyana’s Junior Sportsman of the Year Cleveland Rock and 2007 Pam Am Games bronze medalist Clive Atwell are expected to be in action this weekend.

Rock wrote his name in the local history books by winning Guyana’s first and only medal at the Junior Commonwealth Games which was held in Pune, India last year when he won a silver medal in the bantamweight division.

Affeeze Khan

Clifton Moore

Also expected to be in action are Markember Pierre, Orlando Allicock, Aubrey Moore, Mulchand Sankar, Bert Braithwaite, Devon Boatswain, Troy Waldron and Romeo Norville.