GBA strengthening technical foundation for amateur boxing
James Beckles (centre) during one of his many bouts. Photo credit: alamy.com
The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is strengthening the technical foundation of local amateur boxing ahead of this month’s Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Championships by hosting an international certification programme for referees and judges, led by one of the region’s most accomplished boxing officials, James Beckles of Trinidad and Tobago.
Beckles, a three-star referee and referee assessor in amateur boxing, will conduct the certification course as part of preparations for the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Championships, scheduled for August 20-22 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Widely regarded as one of, if not the Caribbean’s foremost certified boxing officials, Beckles boasts an impressive resume that spans the Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and numerous continental and regional tournaments, making him one of the most experienced technical officials in the hemisphere.
GBA President Steve Ninvalle said the programme is expected to attract close to 30 local referees and judges, as the Association continues to ensure its officials remain aligned with international standards.
“With Guyana operating under World Boxing, it is imperative that our officials are certified using the rules and regulations of the new international federation, just as we previously did under the International Boxing Association (IBA),” Ninvalle explained.
World Boxing was established in 2023 as a new international governing body for amateur boxing following governance concerns surrounding the IBA, which ultimately lost recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
World Boxing has since become the IOC-recognised body responsible for boxing’s pathway to the Olympic Games, prompting national federations worldwide, including Guyana, to align themselves with the new organisation to safeguard their athletes’ eligibility for future Olympic competition.
Guyana formally became compliant with World Boxing as part of that transition, ensuring its boxers remain eligible to compete in Olympic qualification events and other international competitions sanctioned by the new governing body.
According to Ninvalle, bringing in an instructor of Beckles’ calibre demonstrates the Association’s commitment to raising officiating standards alongside athlete development.
“We wanted someone with unquestionable international credentials to lead this programme, and James Beckles was the obvious choice,” Ninvalle said.
“He has officiated at the highest level of amateur boxing and understands exactly what is required under World Boxing. Our referees and judges will benefit tremendously from his knowledge and experience, and ultimately our athletes will also benefit from having better-trained officials.”
Ninvalle added that quality officiating is fundamental to the continued growth of the sport, stating, “If we are serious about developing boxing in Guyana, we cannot focus only on the athletes. Coaches, referees, judges and administrators all have to develop together. This certification programme is another important investment in the future of Guyanese boxing.”
The certification initiative forms part of the build-up to the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Championships, an event conceptualised and first staged in Guyana in 2016.
The tournament is named in honour of Guyana’s 1978 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Winfield Braithwaite, and has since established itself as one of the Caribbean’s premier developmental boxing competitions.
The tournament has also served as a launching pad for numerous Caribbean boxers who have gone on to compete at the Olympic Games and World Championships, reinforcing its status as a critical stepping stone on the international boxing pathway.
