Boxing official slams business

With just one day before the opening ceremony at the Chaguaramas Hotel and Convention Centre, Allan Ferguson said he was extremely disappointed that the corporate sector had not come forward to assist.

Ferguson, a former national amateur middleweight boxing champion is chairman of the Organising Committee for the CABA Championships.

The central Trinidad businessman said that had it not been for Government, who are footing part of the bill for the tournament, his committee would have been in dire straits.

“It’s a classic case of the business sector waiting on the last moment to jump on the bandwagon. But I have news for them, when the boxers win gold it will be too late for them to get into the act,” Ferguson said.

The CABA Championships have attracted 17 overseas countries who have already started arriving for the annual slugfest.

Trinidad and Tobago, as hosts are expected to field boxers in all categories including the women’s division and have a good chance of claiming the overall championship honours.

However Ferguson said that the Trinidad and Tobago success at the championships will in no part be attributed to the backing of the business community.

He said that his office had sent out 180 letters soliciting assistance and not one had received a favourable reply which he said was indicative of the lack of confidence the business community had in the young people of the country.

“Here was an excellent opportunity for the corporate clan to get behind the young people to encourage them and help make a national effort a success but it has been wasted,” Ferguson said.

He said with all the discussion about crime in Trinidad and Tobago, the CABA Championships provided an ideal avenue for the business people to make a statement.

“Imagine we have introduced boxing to 21 schools in the country which is doing its part to fight juvenile delinquency and help motivate the young people into worthwhile and rewarding pursuits but are getting no help from the business sector.

“Government has given us about $500,000 which will help offset the cost of staging the championships but we need a little more to get several big names to visit and promote the sport especially among the young people,” said Ferguson.

The Organising Committee had originally planned to invite former world champions George Foreman and Sugar Ray Leonard but the costs proved to be prohibitive. Alternately they accepted the offer to host former boxer and world famous referee Joe Cortez who is also a motivational speaker who work among the disadvantaged young people in New York where he grew up.

“Cortez is paying his own way to come here to help our young people and get them on the right track. It’s a shame that we are reluctant to help our own and get involved in causes that can make a difference,” said Ferguson.