GDF best gym, Williamson best boxer

When the final bell chimed at this year’s Terrence Alli National Open Championships on Sunday night at the National Gymnasium, Joel Williamson and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) took home the marquee trophies.

After three nights of fistic fury, Williamson of the Rose Hall Jammers Gym was awarded the coveted best boxer award while GDF snared the best gym accolade.

Best Gym Squad! The GDF boxers pose for a team photo after marching away with the Best Gym accolade.
Best Gym Squad! The GDF boxers pose for a team photo after marching away with the Best Gym accolade.

The Berbician fighting in the lightweight division, boxed his way to the trophy by defeating his opponents, Triston Brown, Anandram Dharamraj and Rondell Douglas.

Williamson won via the TKO route in the bouts involving Brown and Douglas.

While Williamson took the top honors in the elite category, Akiel Mounter of Essequibo Boxing Gym was adjudged the best boxer in the youth division.

Best Boxer awardee, Joel Williamson connects to the chin of Rondell Douglas in the final of the lightweight (elite) bout on Sunday night at the National Gymnasium.
Best Boxer awardee, Joel Williamson connects to the chin of Rondell Douglas in the final of the lightweight (elite) bout on Sunday night at the National Gymnasium.

GDF tallied 16 points to march away with the gym award while Republican Gym ended on seven. Third was the Rose Hall Jammers with three points.

The championships which featured in excess of 40 bouts and nine gyms competing for trophies and bragging rights was a successful.

“It was one of the better tournaments organized by GBA” said best coach awardee of the championship, Terrence Poole.

“We had great turn out and support and the boxers put on a really good showing,” Poole said.

Named after one of Guyana’s standout boxers, the fixture is as an avenue for spotting and harnessing the talent of the young boxers who could potentially become future world champions.

Poole added that boxers who excelled at this event, will be on the shortlist to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the Caribbean Development Tournament scheduled for Barbados from December 9-13.

Joshua Joseph who became a triple champion in the welterweight division after boxing unbeaten at the Novices, Intermediate and the Open Championships will most likely in the thoughts of the selection com-mittee.