Stag Beer yesterday made a substantial donation towards the sponsorship of the Mike Parris National Open Boxing Championships that will be held at the Mandela National Gymnasium from September 10-12.
John Maikoo, marketing assistant of Ansa McAl, the distributors of Stag Beer, yesterday handed over the sponsorship cheque to the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) during a press conference held at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), in the office of GABA President Steve Ninvalle.
In an address to the press, Ninvalle noted the significance of the event, linking it to Guyana’s pinnacle boxer, Michael Parris, who is the only Guyanese to date who has earned an Olympic medal. Parris, fighting in the bantamweight category, won a bronze medal at the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow.
Ninvalle stressed that taking into context Parris’ thirty-year legacy, the GABA in collaboration with the MYCS was very honoured to pay tribute to this “son of the soil”.
Moreover, Ninvalle affirmed that the GABA/MCYS collaboration will be looking to continue the event as an annual affair in commemoration of the contribution that Parris has made to his country.
“This achievement has done a lot for the development of boxing, for amateur boxing. If you look at it pound for pound boxing has really been the only sport that has been giving Guyana recognition on the international stage.”
Thus far, Stag Beer has been the only corporate entity to have come on board in support of the event.
Ninvalle expressed the association’s gratitude to the sponsor for the much needed support of this celebrated event.
“Ansa Mcal has been a good corporate citizen, not only to sports but to other events, and we are happy that they were willing to come on board and give this support,” Ninvalle said.
Maikoo, in his address, emphasized the company’s delight in coming on board the event and being associated with honoring a Guyanese icon. He quipped also that this “man’s beer”, Stag, was particularly proud to back such a sturdy sport.
“We have always been behind boxing, and whenever things arise we will be there, Stag will be there,” Maikoo emphasized.
Meanwhile, speaking with GABA tournament director Terrence Poole, Stabroek Sport learned that the event has already attracted the participation of some 30 boxers from out of Georgetown while several from within Georgetown are expected to compete in the championships. Overall, Poole said, the event will see some 80 boxers compete during the three-day period.
The fight cards will include the participation of the boxers scheduled to attend the upcoming Commonwealth Games that will be held in Delhi, India from October 3-14, as the players will be using it as a prelude to their performance at the Games. The boxers expected to attend the Games are Clevon Rock, Dexter Jordan and Devon Boatswain
Also expected to be on show at the event are lightweight boxer Nankumar Singh, Mervin Ageda, Keeve Allicock, Benjamin Henry from Port Kaituma, Richard Wiliams, Ron Smith and Bert Braffith.
Poole also mentioned that the weigh-in for the boxers in Georgetown will be on Friday at 6:00pm at the Gymnasium, while the weigh-in for the boxers coming out of Georgetown will be on Friday also but at 8:00am.
