The Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) under its Pepsi and Gatorade brands are hitting off the second edition of the Gatorade/GABA under-16 boxing tournament in Berbice this weekend.
The second of three scheduled two-day tournaments will be staged at the Central New Amsterdam Police Station Ground. The preliminary round will be held tomorrow.
At a press briefing President of GABA, Steve Ninvalle, commended DDL for its continued support of amateur boxing. “We are very enthused about these tournaments because we are looking at our youths who are the future of tomorrow because if you don’t have a very good nursery then you won’t have good seniors,” Ninvalle said. The first tourney was held on the tarmac of the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym in June.
Ninvalle also extended gratitude to Permanent Secretary at the Sport Ministry Alfred King for his input, the police force, the Guyana Defence Force and Roy Bacchus, Elton Cordis and Kerwin Chase for their support.
Meanwhile, DDL Sales Manager Alexis Langhorne, said she was pleased with the performances of the young pugilists in the first tournament. She echoed Ninvalle’s view that it is important for young boxers to test and sharpen their skills at these events. Langhorne also assured the GABA that DDL will continue to promote boxing and other sports. She wished the boxers success and encouraged Berbicians to support the event.
In his address, GABA Technical Director, Terrence Poole, noted that more than 55 boxers from Berbice, Georgetown, Linden and Essequibo have registered for the two-day event which starts at 6pm tomorrow and Sunday. The preliminary bouts will be held tomorrow and the finals on Sunday. Poole also said the Intermediate Championships will be held on November 9 and 10 at the Gymnasium followed by the National Open Championships in December.
