Ashby, Inverary, Lewis among winners on Friday

Jan 19, 2025 Sports

…Terrence Ali National Open concludes today

Kaieteur Sports- The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) kicked off its 2025 calendar with the Terrence Ali National Open Boxing Championship at the National Gymnasium on Friday evening. The event began with six entertaining bouts, marking the GBA’s first flagship tournament since the passing of former Technical Director, Terrence Poole. The opening night of the three-day championship delivered an exciting start.

The evening featured two schoolboy bouts, with gym mates Isiah Ashby and Kevin Johnson, both representing the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym, securing the first victories in front of an enthusiastic crowd. In the opening match, a 46 kg (Pin Weight) clash, Ashby faced Josh Chester. The two young pugilists traded punches energetically, but Ashby’s superior footwork gave him the upper hand. The bout lasted only 90 seconds, as Chester failed to return to the ring, handing Ashby an early victory and positioning him as a strong contender for the Schoolboy gold medal.

Ashby, Inverary, Lewis among winners on Friday

Day 3 of the 2025 Terrence Ali Open promises to pit the best of the best… Action billed for today at the Gymnasium.

The second match saw Kevin Johnson dominate Sevilen Austin of the Pace and Power Boxing Gym in the 50 kg (Flyweight) division. Johnson’s swift and powerful strikes overwhelmed Austin, ending the bout in just 90 seconds into the round, earning Johnson a decisive victory on the first night.

A closely contested 57 kg (Featherweight) bout between Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Boxing Gym teammates Melroy McPherson and Joshua Thomas kept the crowd on edge. Both fighters displayed impressive skill and determination at the Elite level, providing a masterclass in boxing. The match hung in the balance until the third round, when Thomas landed a series of effective punches that secured him a split-decision victory. Coach Poole would have been proud of the growth and talent exhibited by these fighters.

In the 67 kg (Welterweight) division, hard-hitting Colin Lewis faced gym mate Shemar Sooklall. Lewis’s counter-punches and powerful iron-hooks proved too much for Sooklall, who appeared overwhelmed and abandoned the contest moments before the end of the first round. This easy victory advanced Lewis to the next stage of the competition.

Travis Inverary of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) Boxing Gym showcased his potential in the 71 kg (Light Middleweight) contest, defeating Alex Butcher of GDF on points. Inverary’s performance highlighted his growing dominance in this weight class, building anticipation for his upcoming bouts leading into Sunday’s finale.

The night concluded with a Cruiserweight bout between GDF gym mates Omari Bentham and Aluko Bess. Bess delivered a decisive blow that left Bentham unable to recover during an eight-count, resulting in Bentham abandoning the contest. This gave Bess his first Cruiserweight win of the 2025 season.

The action continued yesterday with more thrilling matchups, and detailed coverage of those bouts will be featured in a subsequent edition.

(Ashby, Inverary, Lewis among winners on Friday)

Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym, National Gymnasium, Pace and Power Boxing Gym, Terrence Ali National Open Boxing Championship

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