Boxing Association names outstanding personalities

The St Lucia Amateur Boxing Association (SLABA) named its outstanding boxers for 2011, who will be competing for the prestigious awards of Junior and Senior Sportsman of the Year at the Annual Sports awards ceremony. It takes place February 18 at the Gaiety on Rodney Bay.
The boxers are Senior Boxer of the Year for 2011, Light welterweight Lyndell “The Russian” Marcellin; and Junior Boxer of the Year, Lightweight Alex Poyotte.
Marcellin had an outstanding 2011winning a number of the bouts he took part in.  His victories included Gold medals at the Inter Gym and Independence Boxing cards in January and February. In September he became the first St Lucian boxer ever to win an international fight at the World Amateur Boxing Championships. Marcellin defeated a highly fancied opponent from Nigeria in the first round but lost in the second round in Baku.
He rounded off the year winning a gold medal at the inaugural Ronald Wilson Memorial Boxing Championships in Barbados. Marcellin was also selected by AIBA to participate in the pre Olympic boxing camp in Wales at the end of this month, in preparation for the final Olympic Boxing Qualifiers in Brazil later this year.
The Junior Boxer of the year Novice Lightweight Alex Poyotte, had two outstanding performances on his debut in 2011. In July he captured gold at the Creole Boxing Championships in Martinique, knocking out his opponent while last month he also won a gold medal at the inaugural Ronald Wilson memorial tournament in Barbados. Poyotte also knocked out his opponent from Barbados after he himself was knocked down in the first round.
Marcellin along with Poyotte and the Boxing Association’s Administrator and Coach selected, are expected to receive their awards at the National Sports Awards ceremony to be February 18 at the Gaiety on Rodney Bay.
The SLABA has also indicated it will be putting itself up for the prestigious title of Association of the Year at the awards ceremony.
In other boxing news, the executive of the SLABA held its first meeting for 2012 Wednesday evening to discuss and outline a number of plans and activities for the year.
The association is expected to send two boxers and two officials to participate in a boxing invitational card in Guadeloupe January 21. The boxers selected are Dalton “The Hurricane” George and Yanic Leon. They will be accompanied by Coach Conrad Fredericks and a manager.
Plans are also being formulated to stage a major exhibition boxing card on the Castries market steps January 29 or February 5 subject to permission being granted.
Guadeloupe is expected to pay a reciprocal visit here with a full team at the end of June. The association is also planning to stage a National Youth and Senior Boxing Championships at the end of July at the Beausejour Indoor Sporting Facility.
That’s not all. There is also the possibility at the SLABA may host Trinidad & Tobago or Barbados in September for a series of bouts.
Also on the cards is a major fundraising event to be staged at the end of August or early September.
These events and activities including a number of other regional and international engagements will be included on the SLABA calendar of events for 2012 to be released shortly.