20/20 Pro/Am boxing cards set for month end launching

Feb 02, 2010 Sports

By Michael Benjamin

The changing formats of sports disciplines have created controversy in some quarters but nonetheless have brought new excitement to the sports arena. Despite the outcries by the skeptics, 20/20 cricket has added a new dimension to the sport, increasing the remuneration of the players and heightening the excitement for the fans.
Then there is small goal football (Futsal) where game time is drastically reduced, from 90 minutes to fifteen, once again fostering an exciting element to the sport.
Maybe, these formats have inspired executives of the boxing fraternity, and come this month end, boxing fans would be treated to an almost similar format for boxing matches when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), in collaboration with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) and the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports stages its inaugural Pro/Am boxing card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Friday February 26 next and thereafter, the last Friday of each month.
Eight bouts are slated for the inaugural card, 4 amateur bouts and a similar number of professional bouts. The amateurs would engage in three round encounters while the professionals would box for four.
President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool authored the initiative and he, along with other stakeholders convened a press conference at the National Communications Networks (NCN) studios to update media operatives of the plans and projections of the forum.
Those in attendance included Minister of Culture Youth and Sports, Frank Anthony, Director of Youth and Sports, Neil Kumar, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, Alfred King, President of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association Steve Ninvalle and Programme Manager of NCN Martin Goolsarran.
Mr. Abdool explained that the initiative was well thought out. He believes that local boxers have the potential to win an Olympic gold medal for Guyana but feels that there is a need for a strong support mechanism. “Our boxers are naturally talented but they will need the support of administrators to realize their goals,” said Mr. Abdool.
He said that after a series of meetings with several interest groups including officials from the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and GABA executives, he decided to incorporate the two fraternities into the plan.
Abdool, who is also the president of the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE), is adamant that once properly implemented, the initiative would blossom into gigantic proportions. He said that administrators have decided that all boxers and other affiliates would be exempted from the entrance fee while patrons would be charged a minimal fee of $500.
Furthermore, boxing buffs in the rural areas, unable to attend the cards would be able to view live broadcasts on NCN 11, largely due to an agreement with the managers of that station and the promoters. The bifurcated objective of such a ploy, Mr. Abdool intimated, is to ensure that fans across the country get the unique opportunity of seeing local pugilists in action thus popularizing the sport. “This is a clear concerted plan to get boxing where we want it to be,” said Mr. Abdool. He also pointed out that fans would be treated to two solid hours of entertainment.
Meanwhile, Sports and Culture Minister, Frank Anthony heartily congratulated Mr. Abdool for coming up with the initiative. He supported the GBBC president’s view that boxing has earned a niche in the local sporting fraternity. He, however, warned that the time has arrived for administrators to think positively about development in all disciplines. “We need to fashion a new model for the future,” the Minister said.
He further lauded the efforts of newly installed President of GABA Steve Ninvalle for his efforts at reviving the sport. Towards this end, the Sports Minister announced that he had acquiesced to a request from the executives of GABA to provide funding for the installment of a national boxing coach.
That individual is still to be identified but Mr. Anthony has assured that his Ministry would be paying a monthly salary to the chosen person.
The other presenters, Mr. Alfred, Mr. Kumar and Mr. Goolsarran were all in approval of the initiative and vowed to support the efforts in whatever way possible.
Several members of the corporate community have agreed to sponsorship deals that would offset the purses of the professional boxers. Permanent Secretary, Alfred King summed up the feeling of the other planners, “We’ve planned the work, now it’s time to work the plan,” he said.

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