WALTER ALIBEY
T&T’s Olympic boxer Nigel Paul is among a shortlist of 25 fighters seeking to be included in the final team that will be shortly selected to represent at the Caribbean Boxing Championship which will take place from December 5-11 in Barbados.
Paul who was knocked down during his Super-heavyweight encounter with Nigerian Efe Ajagba in the first round at the August Rio Olympics will be the ace card for the T&T team, along with the equally talented Michael Alexander in the lightwelter weight division and welterweight Aaron Prince.
But the sport’s technical director Reynold Cox pointed to a number of upcoming fighters he believes will fly the red, white and black with pride at the championship, particularly in the Elite class where heavyweight Brandon Dennis, Mike Inniss (56kg) and Kyleron Ruiz (69kg) will campaign.
Cox, a former boxer for the T&T Defence Force, said although they do not have as strong a team as last year, he has high hopes for the elite team which he is certain will return home with medals and trophies. According to Cox, attempts are being made to get two reserves for the elite team, in the names of Akmal Stroude and Christian Mc Donald.
Apart from the elites, the local contingent will also comprise a Novice category consisting- Kevin Ramdoo (49kg), Anthony Ravello (60kg), Nicholas Alexander (64kg), Aaron Williams (75kg) and Chad Warwick (91kg): a Youth category- Moses Dempster (56kg), Jacob Andrews (60kg), Rahim Felix (64kg), Daniel Ajim (69kg) and Nickell Joseph (75kg).
The contingent also comprises a Junior category that will feature Nyrel Hosein (48kg), Tyreke Hosein (50kg), Joshua Sylvester (66kg) and Tyrone St Clair (80kg) as well as a Women category that will have Renesha Johnson, Kelly Ford and Shantell Adams in the line-up.
Yesterday, Cox described the team as being very talented overall, noting he is expected a good show from them at the tournament.