Allicock eyes Pan Am Games podium finish

Boxing standout, Keevin Allicock going through his paces during a recent training session with Cuban Coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldan at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym. (Orlando Charles photo)
Boxing standout, Keevin Allicock going through his paces during a recent training session with Cuban Coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldan at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym. (Orlando Charles photo)

By Emmerson Campbell

Shaking the cobwebs out of his head and returning to the fray with renewed vigor, boxing standout, Keevin Allicock is looking forward to the Pan American Games with his eyes on the podium.

Allicock told Stabroek Sport yesterday that his training for the Games has been intense with Cuban Coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldan and he hopes his hard work inside and outside the ropes translates to a medal.

“Who knows me knows me, I love to fly our flag” said the exciting 19-year old prospect. “My aim is to always win and be among the medals on the international stage.”

The training of the Commonwealth Youth silver medalist will be further ramped up when he departs for Ecuador with Roldan later this week to be a part of Cuba’s training camp.

According to President of the Guyana Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle, Cuba Boxing Association’s President, Alberto Puig has confirmed that the Cuba senior national team will be in Ecuador for a training camp comprising Cuba, Chile and the host country. 

Puig had extended an invitation to Guyana to have Allicock train with the Senior Cuba side that is also preparing for the Pan Am Games. 

Ninvalle said he had detailed discussions with the president of the Ecuador Boxing Association Alex Gonzales who had assured that the altitude in Ecuador, and training at his country’s high performance centre will enhance Allicock’s training and preparation for the Pan Am Games.   Allicock is excited for the opportunity to train and spar with elite level competition.

“I am thankful to be a part of a camp with boxers that are on the same level or above me, this is the kind of training and sparring I have been wanting for quite some time. This will be a plus for me and will mentally and physically prepare me for Pan Am”.

 Allicock noted that he plans to put his best glove forward during the three-week camp. He is tentatively scheduled to depart on Wednesday and return on July 6.

Asked to comment on being absent for more than half of his training sessions in May which led to Ninvalle writing to the Guyana Olympic Association to suspend his monthly stipend, the prized fighter stated that that situation is behind him and he is focused on the Pan Am Games next month. 

He then stated that he will make a comment when he returns from the Games.

The Pan American Games is scheduled from July 26 to August 11 in Lima, Peru. Allicock is Guyana’s lone representative for the fistic sport.