The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is set to take Linden by storm Saturday as it ups the ante in its quest to unearth new talent in Upper Demerara and to start up a new gym.
The official registration drive for the opening of the new gym in Linden on Saturday will take place at the Mackenzie Car Park from noon to 18:00hrs.
Some 30 individuals will descend on the Mining Town to conduct registration exercises and also perform exhibitions. Assistant Secretary/Treasurer of the GBA, Seon Bristol said, “The registration drive on Saturday will target all ages. This is just the start because they will be a continuous registration process when the gym becomes operational in 4-6 weeks. Linden doesn’t have an active gym at the moment and that is sad.”
Bristol said that the GBA will be taking a ring to the area to conduct boxing exhibitions.
“In addition to the registration process, exhibitions, demonstrations, and training exercises will be staged during this period. We are going to take the ring to Linden and conduct these exhibitions and exercises during the registration period, which will provide a preview of what is to be expected at the gym when it becomes operational. At the official opening of the gym, a national tournament featuring all the major gyms will be staged.”
Bristol said that the GBA views Linden, home of the former world-rated boxer, Terrence Ali, as a potential gold mine for the fistic sport and as such was extremely important to the GBA.
“Linden is a very important region in boxing, they have always had world-ranked fighters and many of the top prospects in history have emanated from Linden.
They have a strong history of building quality fighters and we cannot ignore that. We cannot afford to forget this region because they have made significant contributions in both the amateur and professional ranks.” Along with Bristol, Lennox Daniels, Lancelot ‘Wild Pine’ Easton and Cuban national, Francisco Roldan, will be tasked with supervising the cataloging procedure on behalf of the GBA, while 20 fighters from various gyms will display their talent during the exhibition segment.
The registration period and the eventual opening of the gym which will be located at the Bayroc A is part of the GBA’s objective in resuscitating the fistic sport in the Mining Town.
Initially, the GBA had conceptualized two smaller registration periods, which were August 3 and 4 respectively. However, this major registration drive will now be conducted, which will also feature an exhibition of activities at the Mackenzie Car Park.
Meanwhile, GBA President Steve Ninvalle affirmed, “Linden as a community, is unquestionably revered in the local sporting landscape. In boxing, their athletic achievements are storied, and this move, which is of developmental enterprise, has the sole objective of resuscitating a sport that produced and unearthed notable talents from that fertile soil.”
“The GBA has a commitment to develop every aspect of the discipline, from its physical structure to its soft infrastructure. That is our mandate. We endeavor to restore prominence to the community that has a storied boxing tradition, which, will be to the overall benefit of the discipline and the nation. That is national development,” Ninvalle concluded.
