Guyana Boxing Board officials reward its affiliates and friends

Feb 20, 2011 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin

Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred continued a year of phenomenal successes, copping the Female Fighter of the Year award when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control staged its inaugural award and prize giving ceremony for its outstanding affiliates and supporters at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, Friday evening.
Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore was voted the male Fighter of the Year while Mark Austin, who had recently earned kudos for his remarkable performances in the ProAm Boxing cards, was declared the Most Improved Fighter. The boxing fraternity and guests were also treated to a sumptuous meal that truly underlined the auspicious occasion.
As though the awards were not historic enough, the Executives of the GBBC further launched its website aimed at placing the activities of local pugilists in the international sphere while making it easier for promoters and matchmakers outside of Guyana to access data of these pugilists for international match-ups and other boxing related purposes.
The historic occasion was also graced by the attendance of former World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis who was presented with a beautiful plaque for his sterling contribution to the development of the sport. This was highlighted during his sojourn in the USA where he battled the vicissitudes, defeating all comers to eventually stop James Page to become Guyana’s first world champion.
The coaches also came in for high praise and Lennox ‘Cappel’ Daniels was adjudged the unanimous winner for being the best trainer for the preceding year while Terrence Poole earned the nod for the best second. The forgotten Youth Foundation was adjudged the Best Gym of the year while the selection panel bestowed an award on Pauline London and Debbie Tyson for the best bout of the year. The Troy Lewis/Iwan Azore bout earned the nod for the best bout of the year.
Indeed, the occasion was graced by many esteemed guests including the Honourable Minister of Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony, Director of Youth and Sports, Neil Kumar, past boxing officials, members of the corporate community and other friends of the sport.
Dr. Anthony delivered keynote remarks and lauded the occasion even as he noted the bronze medal achievement of Michael Parris at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
The Minister further noted the efforts of the Abdool led GBBC in providing qualitative and quantitative action for local pugilists, both in the amateur and professional arena. “We are aspiring to make Guyana the home of boxing in the Caribbean,” the Minister noted. He further urged the GBBC to make the awards ceremony a yearly endeavour.
Mr. Abdool complimented his colleagues of the GBBC for their untiring input that made the function a reality. He pointed out that the pivotal aim of the occasion was to create a boxing atmosphere where local pugilists and boxing administrators could pause from a year of hard work to enjoy each other’s company in a less hostile environment than the ring while displaying their many achievements for all to see.
The GBBC President further pointed to the benefits accrued by the amateur boxers ever since the inauguration of the ProAm bouts. He informed that the amateur sector has added more than one million dollars to their coffers for their participation in the ProAm affair. The pugilists have also received over eight hundred thousand dollars worth of food hampers and vouchers to facilitate shopping at supermarkets over the period of the ProAm existence.
Meanwhile, the ambience truly reflected a boxing setting as the guests were entertained by the many bouts that comprised earlier editions of the ProAm cards. This was made possible through the strategic placement of televisions and a large screen that depicted the fights as well as stats of the awardees.
Meanwhile, several other notable persons received awards in various fields and included popular boxing promoter, Keith Bazilio, administrators of the GBBC (past and present), Trevor Arno, John Quail, Mohan Persaud and Eon Jardine (for long and meritorious service to boxing), Carwyn Holland (Promoter of the year), Mark Austin (Most improved boxer), Simeon Hardy (for  registering the fastest knockout), Leon Gilkes (Most exciting fighter), Mandessa Moses (Most improved female fighter), Nankumar Singh (Most exciting amateur boxer). Ansila Norville and Theresa London were jointly acclaimed the best female amateur boxers, while Bert Braithwaite earned the nod for the best male amateur boxer. Maurice ‘Bizzy’ Boyce received an award for his renowned contribution as a trainer over the years, while Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil was honoured for being the first female world champion and the longest reigning one at that.
Howard ‘The Battersea Bomber’ Eastman had kept the Golden Arrowhead flying with distinction during his sojourn in Europe and North America and for that he received an honourable award while former top referee Cecil Henry’s exploits in the ring were fondly remembered and rewarded with a plaque.
Floyd Grant has spent tireless months molding the skills of Sharon Ward and other boxers in Linden and for that he received a special award. Orland Rogers’ input into the development of the sport in Berbice did not go unnoticed and he was duly rewarded with an honour plaque.
Duane Olanzo, whose technical input is crucial towards the qualitative airing of the bouts on the ProAm boxing cards, received commendations for his technical proficiency while Peter Abdool received a special award for his slavish persistence towards the development of the sport.
Corporate institutions were not forgotten and those that came in for high praise and awards include Ansa McAl, Digicel, Shaw Investments, Courts, Guyoil, Giftland Office Max, Guyana Marketing Corporation, Hand in Hand and Abdool and Abdools Insurance among others.

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