Several boxers’ participation in the World Amateur Boxing Championships in doubt...

Several boxers’ participation in the World Amateur Boxing Championships in doubt…

Sep 25, 2013 Sports

Imran Khan and Dennis Thomas assured

Guyana’s 2012 Olympics representative, bantamweight, Imran Khan and middleweight, Dennis Thomas are scheduled to leave Guyana this Friday to participate in the World Amateur Boxing Championships scheduled for Kazakhstan from October 11-27 and President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, said that he is confident that they will benefit immensely from the exposure.
The pugilists have been encamped at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym (ALBG) for about two weeks and were taken through their paces by coaches Terrence Poole and Francisco Hernandez Roldon.

Craig (L) and Khan are rearing to go and pose for a photo op shortly after completing training sessions.

Several other pugilists that were also encamped at that training facility that were spotlighted for participation at the tournament are uncertain of the trip and Mr. Ninvalle said that his executives are working feverishly to accrue the necessary funding to facilitate their participation.
The other encamped boxers are welterweights Eon Bancroft and Ron Smith, jnr/welterweight, Bert Braithwaite and lightweight, Stephon Gouveia. A reliable source confirmed that officials of the International Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) have committed to offset the expenses of Khan and Thomas and those pugilists will also participate in a two week training camp organized by IABA commencing on October 11. Mr. Ninvalle confirmed that IABA officials have already dispatched the relevant documents to facilitate the boxers’ trip, while the Guyana Police Force will supply a per diem for Khan and Craig.
Meanwhile, Terrence Poole has been identified as the coach to accompany the boxers but he will depart Guyana sometime next week as GBA administrators work feverishly to acquire the funding to facilitate his travel as well as that of a few other boxers. The GBA President said that the boxers have prepared diligently and it would be a pity if they are unable to participate in the championships. He said that the impending tournament would have provided the boxers with the kind of competition necessary for the Brazil Olympics.
Kaieteur Sport visited the ALBG several times during the week and noted that the boxers were also uncertain of their fate. They did not attend training sessions on Monday morning nor were they in training in the afternoon. As a matter of fact, none of the two coaches, Terrence Poole and Francisco Hernandez Roldon, were at the gym and this reporter was informed that they were at a meeting with sports officials to thrash out the matter.
The boxers were at work once again early yesterday morning at the National Park under the tutelage of Mr. Poole. While they await their fate, they will enter the ring this Sunday in the second edition of the Mackeson Fight Night at the Cultural Centre Tarmac even as they keep hopes alive.