Latest update September 28th, 2026 10:20 AM
Female boxers return empty handed but coach feels he benefited from experience
Guyanese female boxers’ attempt to procure international honours suffered a major blow after the two representatives that traveled to Barbados to participate in the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) boxing championships returned home empty handed after losing their respective bouts.
Vanessa Robinson lost to Ashley Brace from Wales after the referee stopped her bout in 1:30secs of the first round while Ansilla Norville dropped her junior/middleweight bout to Manana Caballero on points.
The tournament got underway on September 9 and ended on 18 and coach of the team, Shem Cuffy said that the local team was truly outclassed. “The championships were of an exceptionally high standard and the fact that every one of the Caribbean pugilists that participated failed to get past the first round is indicative of the quality of the boxers,” reported Mr. Cuffy.
He said that he has since dispatched a report to the officials of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) outlining several ploys that may be enacted towards the boxers’ participation in tournaments of such quality.
Meanwhile, Mr. Cuffy said that despite the losing efforts of the local pugilists he was still able to extract something from the trip. He said that AIBA had conducted a two weeks training camp in Churchill Barbados that facilitated coaches from small under-developed countries with an aim of widening their knowledge base on the intricacies of the sport as well as new innovations. He said that the course was facilitated by a qualified female AIBA coach from Mexico and another from Italy. “We were taught techniques in weights training and generally were given a thorough insight in applying this type of knowledge to the practical aspects of the sport,” said Mr. Cuffy.
He revealed that he has learnt quite a lot from the experience and will be able to impart some of that knowledge to local coaches and by extent local boxers.
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