Boxing Promoter Keith Bazilio sets eyes on Boxing Association Presidency

Jun 16, 2015 Sports

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Supports monument/national award for fallen world champion    
Less than two weeks after four local boxers failed to qualify after suffering losses at the Pan American Games

trials, head of the People’s Syndicate Promotions and popular boxing promoter, Keith Bazilio, says that such low performances will continue unless the laxity displayed at the level of the GBA administration is brought to bear.
Mr. Bazilio spoke with Kaieteur Sport at his South Ruimveldt home yesterday morning and voiced his disgust at the frequent failures of local amateur boxers at international championships. A veteran of the sport, Bazilio has played key developmental roles in the amateur as well as the professional arena and feels that the time has come to end the blame shifting even as he accuses the executive of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) of several shortcomings. Steve Ninvalle is the current President of the GBA.
Bazilio is so peeved at the turn of events that he has signaled an intention to compete for the post of President of the (GBA) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for sometime next year. He said that he is confident of reinstating the passion synonymous with boxers of yesteryear.
“Amateur boxers of the late seventies and early eighties have distinguished themselves as true warriors and have left a rich legacy for their successors,” maintains Bazilio. He cited such names as Darius Ford, the late, Winston Richards, Donsford Brown and Anthony Barrow among other stalwarts whose fighting attributes are well documented.
Even though he feels that the GBA executive should shoulder some of the blame for the present dismal state

of the game, Bazilio was quick to point out the effective strategies of yesteryear as against the current lukewarm input. “Boxers of the past era were matched against qualitative opponents so even if they lost they still managed to procure valuable experience which served them well in future tournaments,” explained Bazilio.
Quizzed of his pivotal reason for contesting for the Presidential post, Bazilio explained that he is peeved that Guyana is yet to break the Olympics Gold medal jinx after thirty five years. Michael Parris had been the man to procure a bronze medal which remains the singular achievement by any Guyanese at this level.
“We need to solicit the views of those with boxing knowledge so that we could improve on the lot of our stalwarts,” said Bazilio. He said that boxing entails far more than simply punches and once he is at the helm he plans to inject these variables to enhance the boxers’ fortunes.
“Our boxers must attain optimal physical (and mental) fitness and must be taught the intricacies of the game,” Bazilio feels. He also noted the lack of motivation might be responsible for their poor showing. “That is why I believe we need to tap in on the available (human) resources to teach our young pugilists the intricacies of the sport.”
He also admitted that the present crop of boxers are talented but somehow are not motivated to aim for lofty goals. “This issue could be addressed by offering incentives to those boxers that attain specified goals,”

Bazilio explained.
Citing the need for adequate funds to address the developmental works of the GBA, Bazilio saw a need to enhance Governmental relations while strengthening relations with corporate entities with an interest in the sport’s development. He also suggested the resuscitation of the Cuba/Guyana exchange programmes as well as the initiation of similar programmes with Venezuela, Brazil and other Spanish countries. “The Spanish boxers have always provided the type of competition that helped our boxers to improve and I think we should refocus from the Caribbean countries to those that are more beneficial,” he posits.
Indeed, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia have experimented with domestic tournaments which included other Caricom countries. Those efforts were stymied by lack of adequate funds and in some instances, non support of officials of the ruling amateur body, IABA.
Meanwhile, Bazilio supports the call by President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, to have a monument erected in honour of the late world champion, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis. He likened Lewis’ (world title) feat to ambassadorial quality and wondered aloud why the former world champion failed to clinch a posthumous national award at the just concluded Independence celebrations.
“A monument would forever serve as a reminder that a (lowly) ghetto youth dared to travel to the USA, defied all odds and procured a top accolade for this country, a feat that has lifted Guyana to international acclaim,” Bazilio reminded in his pitch for Lewis recognition. “It is not too late to correct this grave oversight,” said Bazilio. He has since committed to support the efforts of GBBC President, Peter Abdool, to have the monument sculpted and to ensure that Lewis is posthumously recognized with a national award.

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