Prisoners return to the ring with point to prove at GBA Novice Championships

Orina Silas (red) and Shania Benjamin of the Republican Boxing Gym ( Prison Services) battled earlier this year against each other.

The Republican Gym will have more than just punches to throw when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) National Novice Championships get underway from September 25–27 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

For the boxers representing the Guyana Prison Service, the three-day tournament marks the official return of the Prisoners to competitive boxing, and judging by the preparations, they are not returning simply to make up the numbers.

The Republican Gym, which has been working under the guidance of former National Champion Wincel ‘Naka B’ Thomas, is expected to bring plenty of intensity to the ring, particularly when the gloves come off against traditional rivals the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

With bragging rights and a point to prove at stake, those matchups could provide some of the tournament’s most intriguing fireworks.

Thomas, who knows firsthand what it takes to compete at the highest level of local boxing, has been putting the Prisoners through their paces as they prepare for their return to the national amateur stage.

For GBA President Steve Ninvalle, however, the significance of the Republican Gym’s participation extends well beyond what happens between the ropes.

Ninvalle said he is both “happy and excited” to see the Prisoners return to competitive boxing, describing their involvement as an important development for the sport and the wider rehabilitation process.

He said the GBA is particularly pleased to see its collaboration with the Guyana Prison Service and the Ministry of Home Affairs beginning to bear fruit.

“This is something we have been working on, and it’s good to see the Prisoners back in boxing,” Ninvalle said.

According to Ninvalle, Guyana occupies a unique position within the Caribbean through its efforts to introduce and develop boxing within the penal system.

He believes the initiative demonstrates how sport can become an important vehicle for discipline, personal development and rehabilitation, while also creating opportunities for individuals to discover and develop their talents.

The Novice Championships will therefore provide more than an opportunity for emerging boxers to gain competitive experience. For the Republican Gym, it will be a chance to show that the work being done behind prison walls can produce fighters capable of standing toe-to-toe with some of the country’s established boxing institutions.