Revival boxers return to central

THE REVIVAL Boxing Gym caravan returns to Longdenville, Central Trinidad today for a second session in a bid to revive the sport in rural districts. Yesterday, Allan Ferguson, assistant manager and programme co-ordinator of the Port-of-Spain based boxing club said he was  encouraged by the response he got last weekend at the Longdenville Community Centre. He is counting on a similar response today from 9.30 am when his team goes into action. Spearheading the effort is top national coach Rufus Edwards who has more than 30 years experience in the sport. Edwards has been certified by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and is recognised by the Cuban Boxing Federation. He was also voted “Coach of the Year” in 1998 and is widely accepted as one of the leading figures in the sport locally.

Ferguson, a former national amateur middleweight champion, said that Revival, which was established more than five decades ago at the then Woodbrook Youth Centre aims to bring back credibility to the amateur sport through a series of coaching sessions. Apart from demonstrations in the correct technique and lectures on other aspects of the fight game, Edwards will also enlighten participants on the basics of coaching so that after the Revival caravan rolls out, the community will still benefit from what had been handed down. “We have every confidence in our coach. Edwards has been sidelined by the present administration but we intend to use his experience and proven skills to revive the sport throughout Trinidad and Tobago,” said Ferguson yesterday. He said Revival is managed by Senator Arnim Smith, a United National Congress (UNC) representative who has produced and managed several top fighters including Aldrick Johnson, Jimmy Joseph, Dane Mitchell, and Jules De Gannes. Johnson is a former World Boxing Council No 4 rated featherweight; lightweight Joseph is ex- No 1 contender for the World Boxing Association lightweight crown; while Mitchell was an outstanding talent and regional champion and Caribbean “Fighter of the Tournament” in Jamaica three years ago. De Gannes is also a former regional title-holder.Yesterday Ferguson, on behalf of Revival, expressed his condolences to the family and friends on the sudden death of  Mitchell, one of their outstanding fighters. Mitchell was fatally shot in Arouca last week. Ferguson slammed the Amateur Boxing Association for depriving the promising welterweight of an opportunity to advance his career when the club was suspended last year. This action, he said, played a major role in curtailing the prospects of the fighter.