‘Friday Night Fights’ in Guyana to be broadcast live

The Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) and the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) have teamed up with the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and National Communication Network (NCN) to present ‘Friday Night Fights’ – a Pro-Am feature which will be held on the last Friday of every month.

Friday Night’ fighters - From left Director of Sport Neil Kumar, GABA President Steve Ninvalle, GBBC President Peter Abdool, Minister of Sport Frank Anthony, Permanent Secretary Alfred King and NCN Production Manager Martin Goolsaran (Orlando Charles photo)

Steve Ninvalle, President of the GABA and Peter Abdool, President of the GBBC, both acknowledged  that an initiative of such nature was long overdue, since it will give young amateur fighters a chance to be seen by the wider population and will help to build the records of the professional fighters.

But providing quality entertainment is also a priority the two emphasized and they are confident  that ‘Friday Night Fights’ can measure up.

NCN would be carrying the broadcast live from 8 pm which will see four quality amateur fights and then a 30 minute break would be taken in keeping with the International Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) rules for Pro-Am cards and then four professional fights will follow with each going for four rounds.

Ninvalle who was recently elected president of the GABA noted that they “are very pleased to be part of such a venture because it will benefit not only amateur boxers but I think the sport would have the recognition it deserves.

I think also it would bring out a lot of fighters and those who are around it would push them to work hard because only the best amateur fighters would be a part of this ‘Friday Night Fights’.”

Winning an Olympic medal at the London Games in 2012 is also one of the basic reasons behind having the event on a monthly basis since it would give the hopefuls a chance to be match ready by having a number of fights under their belts.

“I think with no disrespect to the other disciplines that Guyana’s sure hope of winning an Olympic medal has always been in boxing and it is with that we at the Boxing Board are fully behind this card because you see, having a lot of amateur fights will benefit us in the long run as well,” said GBBC president Abdool.

Minister Dr. Frank Anthony and Permanent Secretary Alfred King along with Director of Sport Neil Kumar all signaled their fullest support behind the venture while pledging their  backing of local boxing in the future.

Production manager of NCN Martin Goolsaran said that his company was more than technically fit to produce a high class production which will match anything shown on HBO and Showtime.