Forde proud of amateur boxing achievements

VICE-PRESIDENT of the Amateur Boxing Association Cecil Forde, has launched a spirited defence of the incumbent administration whose members are seeking re-election at the association’s annual general meeting on Sunday. This is in response to severe criticism levelled against the executive of the ABA about their conduct during the two years they have been in office. Among those seeking to hold on to their positions are Mike Jarvis, president; Forde, vice-president; Mario Robinson, secretary; and Fitzroy Richards, treasurer.

Yesterday Forde, son of the late Marabella promoter Burton Forde, said the incumbent administration have much to be proud about during their tenure and it is on this record they are attempting to stay on for another year. He listed a series of achievements by Trinidad and Tobago boxers and officials over the past two years which he said is indicative of the development of the sport locally. Forde also said that it is under the present administration that Tobago-born heavyweight Kertson Manswell has been able to emerge as a boxer of international class who is a worthy contender for an Olympic medal next year in Athens, Greece. “But the process started since 1999 when for the first time Trinidad and Tobago were able to send a full team of 24 boxers to the annual Caribbean  Championships in Aruba when we placed fifth,” said Forde. Since then two simon pures from the land of steelband and calypso have been able to capture “Most Valuable Boxer” awards through Dane Mitchell in 2001 (Jamaica) and Aaron Cumberbatch (Martinique) last year. “We were also able to improve on our position and are now third placed overall in the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association Championships, a ranking we got at the last tournament earlier this year in the Bahamas,” said Forde. He said among the crowning glories is the awarding of the CABA Championships to Trinidad and Tobago next year to be held over the Easter weekend.

Forde pointed out that a more concerted effort is being made to prepare the  local fighters for international competition through live-in camps at the Cosmic Boxing Gym in Marabella. “At least 15 boxers have attended these camps on five different occasions with the first being two years ago and we are now ensuring that they are conducted twice a year,” Forde said. He said the association have also been able to fly the Trinidad and Tobago flag at international competitions with Manswell, together with Jules de Gannes and Anthony St Clair attending the  2001 World Championships in Ireland. “Six boxers also fought at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England last year; an identical number in the Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador in November;  with success coming from Manswell and Denzil Salazar who earned silver and bronze respectively at the Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo earlier this year. Forde said apart from local amateurs going abroad, boxers from regional nations have been invited here including Cayenne, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Grenada. Additionally Trinidad and Tobago officials have been afforded trips abroad to upgrade their qualifications and attend important workshops and seminars.

Among the coaches who have benefitted are Roland Cave of YTC who spent three months in Hungary and two weeks in Cuba;  Matthew Patterson of Tigers Boxing Gym (ten days in Mexico);  Felix Jones of Sand City (nine days in Cuba); Anthony Waterman of Cosmic Boxing Gym (three  trips to Cuba); and Gordon Hoyte of Tigers, who has been to Cuba on five occasions. Forde also pointed to the four referees and judges who have recently passed  the CABA test and are now eligible to officiate in regional contests. They are Yvonne Joefield, Fitzroy Beckles, Errol Campbell, and Dimitri Stroud. “He is preparing for the IABA exam to officiate at World Championships and  Olympic Games,” said Forde. The vice-president of the Amateur Association said his administration have also been able to utilise Dr Lincoln Harrison and Dr Merril Simon.