Boxing Association hails Harvey’s bronze medal performance at South American Youth Games

The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is celebrating a significant milestone after rising talent Ken Harvey secured a bronze medal at the fourth edition of the South American Youth Games in Panama City.

Harvey, who represents the Andrew Lewis Gym in Albouystown, delivered a string of impressive performances to earn Guyana’s first, and so far, only medal at this year’s prestigious regional event.

In fact, it is Guyana’s first medal since the 2017 Games in Chile, after the country failed to reach the podium at the 2022 edition in Argentina.

Competing in the highly competitive 60kg division, the young Caribbean champion announced his arrival on the continental stage with authority.

His path to the podium included a dominant stoppage victory over Paraguay’s Edgar Miranda in the quarter-finals.

That win propelled Harvey into the semi-finals, where he faced Brazil’s Dos Santos Maicon in a closely contested bout for a place in the gold medal match.

Despite a spirited showing, Harvey was narrowly edged on the judges’ scorecards, losing 2-3 in a decision that highlighted the fine margins at elite-level competition.

In boxing, both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals.

Nevertheless, his performance drew high praise from GBA President Steve Ninvalle, who lauded the boxer’s composure and technical growth.

According to Ninvalle, “The fight was close, and even though we would’ve loved for him to advance to fight for the gold medal, we are extremely proud of his performance and how he represented Guyana and the work we’ve been doing at the boxing association.”

“He has shown that he can compete with the best in South America, and he has now positioned himself as one of the best,” Ninvalle added.

The GBA president also highlighted the association’s structured youth development programme, which focuses on identifying promising talent and gradually exposing them to regional and international competition.

According to Ninvalle, Harvey’s success reflects not only his individual dedication, but also the collective effort of his coaches at both the national level and within his Berbice-based gym.

As Guyana continues to invest in its boxing future, Ninvalle said Harvey’s bronze medal stands as a proud achievement and a strong signal of greater success on the international stage.