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Boxing Hall of Fame launch rescheduled
The scheduled launch of Guyana’s first boxing Hall of Fame, at the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym
Terrence Ali
(ALBG) last Wednesday afternoon, experienced minor hitches and forced the organizers to reschedule the ceremony for next Saturday, December 19.
Nevertheless, the man behind the project, former National and Continental of Americas welterweight champion, Michael Benjamin, said that the few hiccups were minimal and has since been corrected.
Several boxing affiliates along with members of the media had convened at the ALBG and while they were disappointed by the turn of events, they had a sneak preview of the portraits on display and were also briefed of the plans to highlight and preserve the history of the sport and the achievements s of its participants.
President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Peter Abdool, was among those in attendance and he said that he is Impressed. Mr. Abdool feels that the project will support the objectives of his organization. Already he is projecting and has committed to assist in whatever way necessary.
Meanwhile, Mr. Benjamin explained that the facility was conceptualized approximately two years ago while he engaged businessman and boxing enthusiast, Maurice Pyle. The latter individual bemoaned the
Patrick Forde
absence of such an entity while pointing out that the activity and achievements of boxers of yesteryear were rendered inconsequential. Together, Benjamin and Pyle decided to work assiduously towards the realization of the facility.
The project is costly but once again the input of members of the corporate community was sought and they did not baulk. Several of these entities and individuals have responded and contributed handsomely to the project including Ramchands’s Auto Sales, Claude Raphael’s Real Estate, German’s Restaurant, Dr. Max Hanoman, Abdool and Abdool’s Insurance Brokers, Eddy Grant, Oasis Waters, Joe Harmon, John Fernandes Ltd, Brydens and Brydens, Modern Optical, Ansa McAl and Kaieteur News.
Those boxers that will feature in the first phase of the project include the late former Commonwealth champion, Andrew Murray, another deceased pugilist, former WBA welterweight champion, Andrew ‘Sixheads’ Lewis, former world champions, Gary StClair, Vivian Harris, and Wayne Braithwaite among others. The three women that have attained world champion status, Gwendolyn O’Neil, Pamela London and Shondel Alfred will also be featured.
Over the next few months the project will encompass other notable affiliates the likes of referees, judges, past presidents and promoters among others. “Each of these groups comprise individuals that have made a difference and deserves to be among the top achievers,” Benjamin opined.
Guyanese boxers have won Commonwealth, CABOFE, Fecarbox and Latin America and world titles. Benjamin feels that such data should be made available for the benefit of those pugilists currently blazing the trail, if only to enhance their knowledge and act as motivational factors. He also opined that boxing pundits may also find such a facility useful for historical data.
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