TWO COMMUNITY BOXING GYMS RECEIVE EQUIPMENT TO ASSIST WITH DEVELOPMENT OF BOXING PROGRAMMES.

The St. Lucia Boxing Association (SLBA) has donated essential equipment to two boxing gyms in Soufriere and Choiseul, toward the development of their respective boxing programmes.

Both gyms received boxing gloves, skipping ropes, mouth guards, punching bags, head guards, hand wrap, stop watches, and speed balls.

Representatives from the respective gyms were on hand at each gym on the day to receive the equipment from SLBA President, David “Shakes” Christopher, and National Head Boxing Coach, Conrad Fredericks, who were also accompanied by Rise (St. Lucia) Co-founder and Director, Jonathan “Ninja Dan” St. Rose, and SLBA Public Relations Officer, Stan Bishop.

Franklin Solomon, owner of the Soufriere Fitness Centre, located in Fond Benier, said everyone at the gym is excited at the prospect of the boxing programme in Soufriere recovering from its standing eight count after a successful run.

“The programme was alive and well some years ago on the other side of town before we moved to this location,” said Solomon. “So now that it’s back, I’m sure that a lot more interest is going to be generated.”

Solomon said both young men and women will find it necessary and intriguing to re-engage in the boxing programme, adding that the gym will use the present opportunity to make things better and create and produce the best boxers in the region.

“The hottest boxers on the island were from Soufriere when the programme was at its best,” said Solomon. “So with this new facility, coupled with this donation from the boxing association, we are certain that you will see the best boxers coming out of this particular part of Saint Lucia.”

Former OECS boxing champion, Jason Auguste, expressed delight at boxing being re-introduced to his hometown in a big way, even throwing his support behind the programme: “I’m pleased to see the revival of boxing in Saint Lucia, especially in Soufriere. As a former champion, I’d be pleased to lend my support and skills to help the next generation learn the sport.”

Caesar Decoteau, former national boxer and currently coach at the Choiseul Boxing Club, said the donation by the boxing association will encourage more youngsters in the community to take up the sport.

“Our boxing programme has been in existence for more than 20 years and this new equipment ensures that it continues. For now, we have four boxers, but more people have been expressing interest in the sport,” Decoteau explained.

One of the main purposes of donating equipment to various gyms and other institutions across Saint Lucia is to target at-risk youth by getting them involved in the sport as part of their rehabilitation, said Rise (St. Lucia) Inc.’s Jonathan “Ninja Dan” St. Rose.

“We want the youths in Saint Lucia to understand that Rise (St. Lucia) Inc. and the St. Lucia Boxing Association don’t just donate equipment for style, but for them to get involved and turn away from the guns and other weapons,” St. Rose stated.

In September, the SLBA received just over US$45,000 worth of boxing equipment from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to aid in its decentralization programme for boxing and its “Hands in Gloves, Not on Guns” anti-violence campaign. Choiseul and Soufriere are the latest communities to receive boxing equipment from the boxing association.

Over the past six weeks, similar donations were made to the South Boxing Gym in Vieux Fort, Bordelais Correctional Facility, and Boys’ Training Centre. SLBA prez, David Christopher, believes the latest two communities to receive such support also are deserving of the equipment, having produced champion boxers in the past.

“Soufriere has served us well in the past from the inception of the programme under Joseph “Reds” Perreira (SLBA immediate past president),” Christopher said. “So it’s good to know that we can pay homage to Soufriere by bringing boxing back to the community. Choiseul, too, has always produced good boxers and we want to ensure that we can continue that trend.”

Meanwhile, National Head Boxing Coach, Conrad Fredericks, says the SLBA’s decentralization programme augurs well for the growth and development of boxing in Saint Lucia. While the SLBA manages its own gym at Vigie, he believes that the sport can only grow through providing the relevant support where it is needed.

“I’m very proud that these boxing gyms are starting up in these communities. With new gyms being spread across the island, it proves that the St. Lucia Boxing Association is doing its work. With more gyms come more tournaments and more boxers. I also hope to see more females take up the sport,” Fredericks explained.