Desmond Amsterdam’s aim is to entertain and impress in his first outing in the ring, since earning the coveted Sportsman-of-the-Year award.
Amsterdam, 30, is set to headline the stacked Patrick Ford Memorial Boxing Tournament Sunday at the National Gymnasium.
The event, which will have an international flavour, gets cracking from 18:00hrs and is scheduled to attract the cream of the Region’s pugilists from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia and Suriname.
Nicknamed ‘Dynamite’, the prized middleweight is set to detonate when he matches gloves with Nickelle Joseph of the Twin Island Republic.
“I am looking to put on a good show,” said Amsterdam yesterday of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) in collaboration with McDonald Promotions event.
The workhorse orthodox fighter is brimming with confidence. He credits his work ethic for his otherworldly self belief.
“I will go out there and make sure everyone is entertained. I do not know much about my opponent but how I am feeling right now and based on my training and fitness, I do not think the fight will go the distance.”
The GBA’s Boxer-of-the-Year, and highest-ranked local IBA pugilist [on 23] will headline the international section which will also feature Junior Commonwealth silver medalist Keevin Allicock and Colin Lewis.
He is encouraging fight fans to come out and support Team Guyana.
“Come out and support not just me but all the local fighters, Sunday will be an exciting card.”
While a total of 15 bouts are scheduled, 11 international fights are confirmed for the night’s proceedings, with the emerging school boys division, which is the nursery of the GBA, also expected to feature albeit in a local capacity.
The competition will also mark an important resumption of female international boxing, as rising stars and siblings Alisha and Abiola Jackman will return to the squared circle in preparation for the IBA Women’s World Championship in New Delhi, India from March 15-31 2023.
According to information emanating from the GBA, public interest in the tournament is at a zenith, as tickets that were initially available have been sold out, which is indicative of the sport’s growing momentum and direction.
The prestigious competition is staged in honour of the late pugilist, who etched his name in the annals of Guyana’s boxing history by becoming the first Guyanese to contest for the world title under the Golden Arrowhead. In his first attempt at international glory, Ford lost a contentious bout to Mexican Salvador Sanchez for the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title on September 13, 1980.
Ford, who captured the WBC FECARBOX title and Commonwealth featherweight championship lost his second bid at international glory at the hands of Eusebio Pedroza of Panama. He ended his career with an impressive 23-fight record of 19 wins and four defeats.
Ford, who was the brother of pugilist Reginald Ford, passed away in 2011 at the age of 55. (Emmerson Campbell)
The official international fight card is below:
1. Jamal Eastman (GUY) vs
Domelzo Schet (SUR)
2. Qunice Boyce (GUY) vs
Richard Evert (SUR)
3. Nikaela Khodra (STL) vs
Leeann Boodram (T&T)
(FEMALE)
4. Brian Harris (GUY) vs
Jaden Castillano (T&T)
5. Alesha Jackman (GUY) vs
Shawnelle Hamid (T&T)
(FEMALE)
6. Joel Williamson (GUY) vs
Jeremiah Toussaint (BAR)
7. Colin Lewis (GUY) vs
Nathan Debesette (T&T)
8. Abiola Jackman (GUY) vs
Kamara Stuart (BAR)
9. Keevin Allicock (GUY) vs
Samuel Greene (SUR)
10. Troy Glasgow (GUY) vs
Leandro Dongo (SUR)
11. Desmond Amsterdam
(GUY) vs Nickelle Joseph
(T&T)
