Young boxers shine at GBA developmental tournament

The future of Guyanese boxing was on full display this weekend as the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym took top honours at the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Developmental Tournament.

Staged at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym, the event brought together a hungry pack of young fighters from across the nation—including Pace and Power, Harpy Eagle and the New Amsterdam Boxing Academy (NABA)—for an action-packed evening of amateur boxing.

The tournament delivered standard-setting drama from the opening bell.

In the 36-39kg schoolboy division, the host gym’s Junior Madray produced one of the performances of the night. Madray put on a clinical display from the first bell, forcing Marcus Vanderstoop (Harpy Eagle) into an early retirement.

The crowd was also treated to a brilliant, solitary female bout in the 43-45kg division. Pace and Power’s Makayla Rose edged out Mya Simon (Harpy Eagle) via a razor-thin split decision after three rounds of relentless toe-to-toe action.

As the weight classes went up, so did the power. The 60-63kg division saw Dyreck Springer (Pace and Power) secure a dominant Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) victory over Curtis McDonald. Emmanuel Springer followed suit shortly after, dismantling Izzla Vanderstoop with a second-round stoppage at the 2:14 mark.

The host gym walked away with the coveted Best Gym trophy, but individual honours were split across the field after a stellar night of grassroots boxing.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle was full of praise for the standard of competition, emphasising that these tournaments are the bedrock for creating future international champions.

The young fighters won’t have long to wait to get back under the lights, either. Ninvalle confirmed that the GBA’s relentless development drive will continue with the next tournament scheduled in just two weeks’ time.

Full Results

30-33kg: Terrie Matherson (Pace and Power) def. Josiah Abraham on points.

30-33kg: Tyrese De Younge def. Patrick Wilson on points.

31-34kg: Imhotep Vanderstoop (Harpy Eagle) def. Tyrese Mullin (Walkover).

33-36kg: Ukesh Persaud (NABA) def. Denzil Thomas on points.

36-39kg: Junior Madray (ALBG) def. Marcus Vanderstoop via retirement.

43-45kg: Makayla Rose (Pace and Power) def. Mya Simon via split decision.

47-50kg: Trevor Matherson (Pace and Power) def. Itavius Vanderstoop via retirement.

52-55kg: Ezekiel Bancroft (ALBG) def. Akeem Ross on points.

60-63kg: Dyreck Springer (Pace and Power) def. Curtis McDonald via RSC.

63-66kg: Emmanuel Springer def. Izzla Vanderstoop via RSC (Rd 2, 2:14).

74-77kg: Simeon Hamer (ALBG) def. Jofes Jackson via split decision.

Heavyweight: Ken Harvey (ALBG) def. Hotham Vancooten (Walkover).