Former three-time amateur and two-time professional boxing champion Jeff Roberts is no longer in the business of winning titles but is content on giving young amateur pugilist a fighting chance in the fistic sport of boxing.
Spotting and harnessing the talent of young pugilists in the Tiger Eye Gym in Berbice is Roberts’ new passion as a means of giving back to the community.
Two of those talents include 16-year-old Michael April and 17-year-old Travis Fraser who will represent Guyana at the South America Youth Games in Peru next month.
Roberts described April and Fraser as “hardworking and dedicated boxers,” adding that he would like to see them go as far as possible.
“I do think they have the ability to be champions,” was his candid assessment of the two Simon Pures.
According to Roberts, Fraser’s record stands at 14 wins and one loss while April is undefeated in 13 bouts.
Although the gym is producing outstanding boxers, the former champion would like to see the Tiger Eye Gym have more and better equipment and is calling on the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and corporate Guyana to support in any way they can.
“The GBA has never donated any equipment to gym so I am calling on them and other business entities to support something that can give our youths a fighting chance in boxing,” Roberts declared.
“I believe that once you give a child a taste of success and the tools they need to succeed they won’t stop until they reach their goals. Training boxers right now is my passion. Boxing is the tool I use to make my passion into a reality and that could be used to provide a livelihood in their future,” Roberts added.
The Tiger Eye coach can be contacted on 666-6902 or 333-3821.
