Packed calendar of events for Boxing Association

Judging by their calendar of events it will be another busy year for The St Lucia Amateur Boxing Association (SLABA) under the leadership of President, David “Shakes” Christopher.

Among the major events boxers are expected to participate in this year are the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland; July 23 to August 3, The CAC Games qualifiers in May and the CAC Games in November in Vera Cruz, Mexico; November 14-30 and The Goodwill International Boxing Tournament in Guyana from February 14-16.

St Lucia is expected to defend its OECS Boxing title here June 27-29 and also participate in the Creole Boxing championships set for October in Guadeloupe, where they will also defend their Creole Championship title.

A number of Road Show Exhibition box offs are down on the association’s calendar this year and there is expected to be training programs for officials and coaches in May and for referees and judges in April.

A regional Boxing showdown is scheduled here from March 28-30 and a non combat boxing program for schools in the Castries basin is expected to start next month.

The National Boxing championships are set for November along with the Police week Boxing Exhibition.

In other news, the SLABA announced that three boxers and three officials will represent the island at an International Goodwill Boxing Tournament in Guyana February 14-16.

The contingent travelling to Guyana for the tournament are Boxers, 64 kg Lightwelterweight  Lyndell “The Russian” Marcellin, 69 kg Welterweight Ron Bastien and 75kg Middleweight Arthur Langillier.

The officials travelling with the team are Head Coach, Conrad Fredericks and Second Vice President and PRO of the SLABA, Brian Mc Donald as Team Manager. Also travelling with the team is SLABA President, David “Shakes” Christopher as head of delegation.

While in Guyana, Christopher is expected to have discussions with officials of the other participating countries, in terms of increasing meetings and competition among boxers from the Caribbean.

Boxers from host country Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe have been invited to participate in the tournament.

St Lucian boxers are using this event in Guyana as preparation for a number of major boxing events coming up, among them the Commonwealth Games and CAC  Games, with the three going to Guyana all on the shortlist for the St Lucia team for the Commonwealth Games.