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Boxing Archives for ALBG to retain exploits of local pugilists
Who is Patrick Forde and what has he done to be considered a special Guyanese? Anyone ever heard of Lennox Blackmore? What about Kenny Bristol, Brian Muller, Dereck ‘Teacher’ McKenzie and the host of pugilists that have bared fists
Andrew Lewis
and distinguished Guyana as a strong nation of boxing champions?
Boxing pundits of yesteryear will not only remember the names; they will also remember the action packed encounters whenever these warriors graced the ‘square jungle.’
Despite their value to the sporting sector and the country as a whole, these pugilists have not been tangibly recognized and now that their fistic days are over, they have simply been forgotten by many while just remaining a vague memory for others.
Former Continental of Americas welterweight champion, Michael Benjamin, is just as concerned and has teamed up with businessman and boxing enthusiast, Maurice Pyle, to effect changes to the status quo. To this effect, those principals will join with President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, his equal of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, and other boxing enthusiasts to launch the first ever (boxing) pictorial museum at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym, Independence Boulevard next Wednesday afternoon.
The museum will depict the photos of a wide cross section of boxers, past, present and even deceased. Later on the collection will include coaches (past, present, alive and dead) as well as other affiliates that have contributed to the development of the sport.
At the moment, photos of several local pugilists are completed and ready for display including ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, Gary St Clair, Wayne Braithwaite and Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore. The females have not been forgotten
Michael Benjamin
and there are also portraits of those that have distinguished themselves. These include Gwendolyn O’Neil, who is a 5 times world champion, and current world champion, Shondell Alfred.
President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool and the GBA President, Steve Ninvalle have inputted greatly and have also etched their names into boxing even amidst vast odds and they will also be depicted for their efforts.
Several corporate entities and individuals have contributed handsomely to the project including Ramchands’s Auto Sales, Claude Raphael’s Real Estate, German’s Restaurant, Dr. Max Hanoman, Abdool and Abdool’s Insurance Brokers, Eddy Grant, Oasis Waters, Joe Harmon, John Fernandes Ltd, Brydens and Brydens, Modern Optical and Kaieteur News.
Yesterday morning, Mr. Benjamin visited the Beterverwagting office of Ansa McAl where senior executive, Troy Cadogan committed to a sum to complete the project. The former pugilist extended gratitude to his benefactor while pointing out the importance of the donation.
Meanwhile, Benjamin said that he has had discussions with Mr. Ninvalle who has given his blessings to the project.
Benjamin also intimated that apart from converting the ALBG to an archival location he envisages a place where boxers could congregate for social and other activities. The former local and Continental of Americas welterweight champion feels that the time has long past when contemporary pugilists can research the records and statuses of their predecessors in order to carry on the proud tradition. “A boxing archives of a well documented account of those (past) boxers’ activities may just be the variable to bolster the hopes and courage of our current boxers thus igniting renewed hope, vigor and vitality in their breasts,” opined Mr. Benjamin. He said while the boxers’ records will comprise a part of the institution, these records will be forthcoming since it requires meticulous research in order to present correct data.
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