GBA reveals card for Patrick Forde Memorial Championship

International boxing will make a welcome return to the National Gymnasium on Sunday February 19th when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), in collaboration with McDonald Promotions, stages the 2023 edition of the Patrick Forde Memorial Championship.

This one-day event, the first international sporting venture for any discipline staged on local shores for 2023, would attract participation from Barbados, Suriname, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been responsible for this event last being staged in 2019, when the only international participation had come from Suriname.

Now with a total of 15 bouts scheduled, 11 international fights are confirmed for the night’s proceedings, with the emerging school boys’ division, which is the nursery of the GBA, expected to feature, albeit in a local capacity.

This competition would also mark an important resumption of female international boxing, as the rising star siblings Alesha and Abiola Jackman would return to the squared circle in preparation for the IBA Women’s World Championship in New Delhi, India from March 1531, 2023.

It would be Alesha’s first taste of international combat, while this would mark Abiola’s reappearance on the international circuit since winning gold at the 2019 Caribbean Championship in Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile Desmond Amsterdam, Sportsman of Year, GBA Boxer of the Year, and highest-ranked local IBA pugilist, would be headlining the internation- al section, in which would also be featured Junior Commonwealth Silver medalist Keevin Allicock and the ever-ready Colin Lewis.

According to information emanating from the GBA, public interest in the tournament is at a zenith, as tickets that were initially available have been sold out, which is indicative of the sport’s growing momentum and direction.

This prestigious competition is being staged in honour of the late pugilist Patrick Forde, who etched his name in the annals of Guyana’s boxing history by becoming the first Guyanese to contest for the world title under the Golden Arrowhead. In his first attempt at international glory, Forde lost a contentious bout to Mexican pugilist Salvador Sanchez for the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title on September 13, 1980.

Forde, who captured the WBC Fecarbox title and Commonwealth Featherweight Championship, lost his second bid at international glory at the hands of Eusebio Pedroza of Panama. He ended his career with an impressive 23-fight record of 19 wins and four defeats.

Forde, who was the brother of pugilist Reginald Forde, passed away in 2011 at the age of 55.

The official international fight card

1. Jamal Eastman (Guy) vs Domelzo Schet (Sur)

2. Qunice Boyce (Guy) vs Richard Evert (Sur)

3. Nikaela Khodra (StL) vs Leeann Boodram (T&T) (FEMALE)

4. Brian Harris (Guy) vs Jaden Castillano (T&T)

5. Alesha Jackman (Guy) vs Shawnelle Hamid (T&T) (FEMALE)

6. Joel Williamson (Guy) vs Jeremiah Toussaint (Bar)

7. Colin Lewis (Guy) vs Nathan Dubissette (T&T)

8. Abiola Jackman (Guy) vs Kamara Stuart (Bar)

9. Keevin Allicock (Guy) vs Samuel Greene (Sur)

10. Troy Glasgow (Guy) vs Leandro Dongo (Sur)

11. Desmond Amsterdam (Guy) vs Nickel Joseph (T&T).

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