Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 14, 2013 Sports
– Admits to talented crop of pugilists
By Michael Benjamin
Approximately three years ago President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, created the Friday Night Fights, an 8 card initiative that consisted of 4 amateur and an equal number of professional bouts. The idea was to create opportunities for the professionals to practice their trade on the international scene even as the amateurs engaged in frequent bouts while procuring valuable experience.
The initiative seemed to be working; several professional pugilists have won lucrative Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) titles, while the amateurs benefitted immensely from increased activity. However, despite what appears to be a positive step in the right direction, top promoter and head of the People’s Syndicate Promotions, Keith Bazilio and former professional boxing champion, Jeff Roberts is adamant that the sport is in dire straits and in need of a further shot in the arm if locals are to impact on the international scene.
The two boxing experts took time out to share their views with Kaieteur Sport even as they extended their services to those responsible for developmental strategies. Both individuals shared the view that both entities, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and the GBBC are dependent upon each other and have unique roles to play in the developmental process. “The sport is currently in dire straits,” declared Mr. Bazilio who is best remembered for his shrewd promotional skills during the eighties when the sport was at an all time high. He lauded the ProAm initiative saying that it was a savior to those boxers (both amateur and professional) that were inactive during those days when promoters became scarce.
However, Bazilio poked a jab at the effectiveness of the programme saying that while a few amateur boxers might have benefitted, a large group are not privy to that type of exposure.”One could not have expected all of the boxers to box on the card (which facilitated just 4 fights) so to my mind there was a need for additional input from the GBA to fill the void,” opined Bazilio.
Despite Bazilio’s prognosis, executives of the GBA are adamant that they are addressing the key concerns of their charges as they prepare them for the 2016 Brazil Olympiad. Furthermore, a team of these boxers are currently engaged in stiff training in preparation for international duties at the Roberto Balado and the Cardova Cardin boxing tournaments scheduled for Cuba early next month.
“I have not seen any boxer that I would identify with Olympics quality,” offered Mr. Roberts. He said that he had seen Imran Khan in action against Trinidadian Lawrence Singh in Trinidad and Tobago during his (Khan) preparations for the 2012 London Olympics and though Khan won the bout he (Roberts) was not as impressed by the Guyanese performance. “Winning is good but in the end one must be able to take away some important lesson from a fight if he is to boast of improvement,” Roberts maintained. He feels that the answer lies in the establishment of a nursery with the relevant professionals to guide the boxers.
“Boxing is indeed suffering because of an absence of a proper nursery programme supported by adequate professionals to steer them in the right direction,” chimed in Bazilio. He pointed out that Guyanese boxers have been dominating the sport at the Caribbean level ever since boxing was inaugurated into the Carifta Games in 1985. At those games Guyana had won two gold medals (Michael Benjamin and Earl Greene), one silver (Terrence Munroe) and one bronze (Garfield Sam).
This is no longer the case as most of the Caribbean countries have since caught up after employing the right strategies. Local pugilists are now relegated to the back burner with Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica carting off the lion’s share of prizes at the afore mentioned games.
“Our officials must firstly reorganize their thoughts and stop accepting mediocre achievements; they somehow believe that silver and bronze medals are just as lucrative and must be lauded,” opined Bazilio. He further pointed out that local boxing administrators are smug with bronze or even silver medals. “We must stop accepting that second and third places are lucrative and must be celebrated; on the contrary it should be viewed as an insult to the many warriors that have blazed the trail and left a rich legacy for other pugilists to capitalize on,” maintained Bazilio.
But what is the answer to a return to those years when amateur boxers were most productive? Mr. Roberts believes that there must be collaboration among the coaches. He feels that they must pool their resources and share their knowledge towards a common goal. “Most of the work is done by (Terrence) Poole and while such commitment is laudable one must admit that a conflict of interest scenario might be possible,” opined Roberts. He said that the coaches should be able to huddle and discuss varying strategies for the common good of those boxers identified for international duties.
Touching on the appointment of Cuban coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldon to the national team, Bazilio said that it was indeed a good move, but the Cuban must aspire to work with the local coaches in order to further understand the challenges they encounter. He said that while Cuban boxers have ruled the roost on the world scene, Guyanese boxers are differently cultured and unique. “We should be focusing on improving their strengths rather than attempt to change their styles,” Bazilio suggested.
Both Bazilio and Roberts share the view that the time has arrived for coaches to be graded and categorized. “In that way local boxers are better guided of the quality of their mentors,” he said. He feels that when this becomes effective coaches would feel constrained to improve on their acumen and strategies or suffer the fate of exclusion.
Consequently, both analysts opined that boxers must frequent the gyms so that their coaches may be able to evaluate their potential and progress regularly. Roberts reminisced on the tactics of the late Caesar Barrow, “he knew how to attain a high level of fitness in his charges and was a master coach.” Bazilio conceded while adding, “Caesar was a condition freak; presently our coaches have perfected that art while our boxers are very courageous; they need to spend more time on strategizing and tactics.”
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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