Berbice amateur boxers have created history with three of them making the national team to participate in the inaugural Youth South American Games in Peru, starting today (Thursday) and ending on September 29.
The four-member boxing team, which departed Guyana on Tuesday, consists of flyweight Michael April, junior middleweight Travis Fraser and bantamweight Joel Williamson; the other boxer is Tevon Telford.
Coach of the Berbice boxers Jeff Roberts, speaking on the boxers’ selection said, “Berbice has made history, in that it is the first time in amateur boxing, we have three junior boxers from Guyana, age 17 years old and under, representing in the Youth South American Games”.
He said the boxers underwent rigorous training prior to leaving Guyana in their quest for gold.
Roberts, who represented Guyana at the amateur and professional levels, won the national bantamweight amateur title in 1980 and the featherweight title three years later. He was considered one of Guyana’s feared boxers by Caribbean glove men.
The three-time champion said that over the past two months, he focused on speed, defence and technique.
According to Roberts, he hopes it is only the beginning, since he is looking forward to greater things. He said he is hoping that this opportunity for Berbice boxers will break the ice.
“I am happy to know that Berbice has been doing so well in the junior selection because it has been a long time since we have not had anyone from Berbice being selected to represent Guyana. I am very happy and proud to know that we don’t have one or two we have three.
“These three guys I worked them very hard and hopefully they will make themselves proud, make Berbice proud and ultimately make Guyana proud.”
Fraser has promised to do his best while Williamson says he will make all his supporters proud.
A 31-member contingent left Guyana for Peru to represent Guyana at the South American Youth Championships. The country will be represented in athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, swimming, table tennis and weightlifting.
