GBBC plans initiatives to lift boxing from its dismal state

Jan 24, 2009 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin
The current dismal state of professional boxing has prompted officials of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) to convene a meeting to discuss ways of addressing the problem in an effort to create opportunities for local pugilists thus enabling them to launch off into the international arena.
Former Secretary of the GBBC, Trevor Arno said that officials of the ruling body are very concerned over the present state of the sport. He said that they have arranged a meeting among themselves to discuss this and other matters compromising the development of the sport.
The meeting, scheduled for February 1 will thoroughly examine the situation with an aim of implementing measures and strategies to address the situation.
According to Arno, President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool has suggested that the Board organize at least four boxing cards for this year. He said that the compilation of the card would be primarily young fighters that are making their debut or those with a maximum of five fights.
He said that the aim of this ploy is to create and retain a high level of interest in the sport while providing adequate activity for local pugilists. “We believe that this ploy will create the type of interest necessary for the sustenance of the sport while creating opportunities for young boxers to hone their skills,” Arno opined.
However, the former Secretary admits that such a ploy can have a negative effect on crowd support since patrons may want to question the ability of boxers at this level to provide action packed encounters.
Arno said that while he understands the concerns of the public, he believes that young fighters can provide the type of action packed encounters that the fans crave. He said also that the GBBC executives plan to engage in stringent marketing and public relation strategies that would compliment the efforts of the boxers. “The GBBC plans to engage local boxers in discussions to foster a better understanding of their respective roles in the arrangement, he said.
Addressing the issue of remuneration (boxers’ purse), Arno said that boxing officials have examined the issue from various perspectives and while he admits that the situation can get dicey, he is confident that once the boxers understand the objective of the strategy as well as the spin-off, they will be more willing to cooperate.
“We have to remember that we are not discussing the high profile fighters but those that are now making their debut or maybe has about two or three fights,” Arno reminded. He said that the purses offered to these fighters would be somewhere near $40.000 and $50.000. Quizzed on the possibility of diminishing interests on the part of supporters, Arno admitted that the likelihood of such results is possible However; he said that the chances of this ploy being successful are very high. He also said that even if the GBBC falters at the initial stages, the likelihood of attaining dividends in the end is very high.
Added to that, Arno intimated that the GBBC has decided to feature a few high profile fighters on the very cards of the debutants. “That way the fans will not be shortchanged even as we try to introduce the debutants to them,” he said.
Arno admitted that Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis and Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman are almost at the end of their careers. He also mentioned other fighters like Howard Eastman and Rawle Frank who have recently provided promoters with main bout material. However, he said it is unrealistic to expect that these fighters will be around forever.
As such, he admits that the time is now ripe to focus on the younger breed of fighters to take over the mantle when the aforementioned fighters have vacated the arena.
Responding to the suggestion that the GBBC form alliances with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) to compliment their respective efforts, Arno said that the GBBC had ventilated this ploy in the past, albeit without much success. He said that the GBBC executive had sought to engage executives of the GABA immediately after Affeeze Khan had took over the helm. Arno said that officials of the GBBC had discussed ways of collaboration, suggesting at least three amateur fights comprise every professional card. He said that being aware the ruling amateur body, AIBA frowned on monetary rewards for amateur boxers, his team suggested food hampers instead. Arno said that officials of the GABA intimated that they had problems with such an arrangement. Subsequently, there has been a breakdown in discussions.
Arno pointed out that IABA has employed stringent changes within the amateur structure. He said that former local boxing official, now an international judge, Wilf Bhodoo has advised the Board that IABA has recently approved monetary rewards for amateur boxers and have already implemented this initiative in Canada, as well as other international territories.
Arno said that even this disclosure failed to solicit a positive response as the GABA administration remained stolid in their positions. As such, Arno said that GBBC executives decided to abort all discussions.
Boxing has given Guyana a lone medal, a bronze, at the Moscow Olympic Games as well as five world titles. Local pugilists have also accumulated numerous prestigious accolades including Fecarbox, Commonwealth, Cabofe and Continental of Americas titles.
These achievements have strengthened our position as a strong boxing. The recent dearth of activities has compromised this development. Officials of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control have committed themselves to work very hard to change this sordid situation in 2009.

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