Robinson tells Potts work in interest of boxing

BOXING Promoter Buxo Potts is being asked to focus on transferring boxers from the ranks of amateur to that of professional. The call comes a day after Potts accused the Amateur Boxing Association of refusing to accept and register an application by the ABC Boxing Academy to engage in active boxing in Trinidad and Tobago. But in an interview yesterday Mario Robinson- the association’s secretary told Newsday that the international match-maker failed to meet a series of requirements for acceptance. He made it clear Potts first was ineligible to serve on the board of the Amateur Boxing Association as he is a member of the parent body, the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control according to the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA).

In addition, Potts must pay a registration fee of $100 to the Amateur Association as well as $5 for each boxer. According to Robinson, he is feeling the brunt of a vicious attack by the controversial boxing promoter, who he says is really targeting his boss and vice-president of the amateur association Cecil Forde. Robinson expressed the view that Potts should be working for the good of the country, which in his capacity should be converting local amateurs to local and international professional boxers.

He revealed that his association is currently in the process of preparing a contingent of local boxers for the coming Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) tournament carded for June 17-28 in St Thomas Virgin Islands. He said the boxers were selected from a recent national card in Princes Town and his association is currently in the proces of working out financial arrangements among other things, for the amateur national team. Robinson also told Newsday that Potts was also asked to submit the address for his proposed gym of which he submitted two addresses, one at Malabar, Arima and the other at Waterloo, in Central Trinidad.

However Robinson revealed that when his association inspected the first of Potts’ venue for his academy at Malabar, he found there was no room in which such a facility could be held. Newsday understands that the proposed site for the academy is at the backyard of former national world championship boxer Claude Noel. Robinson revealed further that the second of Potts’ proposed venue at Waterloo was cancelled due to a falling out between him (Potts) and the owner of the residence Allan Joseph who is a former boxer.