By Neto Baptiste
In an effort to raise funds for the upcoming OECS Invitational Boxing Championships in St Lucia later this month, a number of Antigua and Barbuda’s top fighters will put their skills on display during the Uprising Boxing Gym’s ‘No Guts No Glory’ fundraiser slated for Saturday at the former BBC complex in Lightfoot.
The owner and trainer at the Uprising Boxing Gym, Anthony Severin, said six boxers will represent the country at the OECS event. However, although the government has pledged to take care of accommodations, the fighters are still in need of money for tickets and other necessities.
“We are trying to do our fundraiser, trying to reach out to corporate sponsors and trying to get help in every way I can to see if we can cover the cost,” Severin said.
“We have calling, following up on a daily basis to try and get that help. St Lucia is trying to accommodate us because they know of our situation and they are trying to help as much as they can. They were even trying to send two of their boxers to our event,” he said.
Saturday’s fundraiser is slated to start at 3pm with a barbecue while bouts are scheduled to punch off at 5:30pm.
Two juniors, Leon Lauat and Osahar Browne and novices Taliek Henry, Uriah DeSilva, Zalaan Jan and Quwanly Henry will represent Antigua and Barbuda at the OECS championships.
Severin believes this is the best possible team to get the job done.
“They are going to be put in the divisions they are supposed to and for the divisions they are going to be fighting. I am confident they are going to do good because you have the novice fighters who have more than five fights and you have the juniors who are like from 15-16 where our two youths will be in. So, I believe that once they are set in the right categories and age groups that they are good and competitive enough to hold their own,” he said.
Adults attending Saturday’s fundraiser will pay an admission fee of $20, while children between the ages of 10 and 16 will pay $10, and those under 10 will enter for free.