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BY
GREGORY TRUJILLO
National amateur boxing coach, Cuban Vincente Martinez believes
that T&T boxers have improved enough to medal at the
Pan American Female Boxing Championships, which begins today
with the opening ceremony at the Chaguaramas Convention
Centre in Chaguaramas, from 6 pm.
Jamila
Jones
Martinez has been in charge of five of the seven fighters
who will be wearing the national colours - Latoya Providence
(bantamweight), Jamila Jones (featherweight), Leeann Boodram
(lightweight), Chimere Taylor (middleweight) and Stephanie
Allen (flyweight).
The five have been training under Martinez at the national
training camp in Marabella for 20 weeks.
“We
are going to have a good chance because we have been training
for the last 20 weeks,” said Martinez.
“These
fighters are very disciplined and were very dedicated in
training.
“I
have no complain about these boxers who were training with
me.
“I
feel that Taylor, Jones and Providence have a very good
chance. They have improved in their strength and general
endurance and also they have improved their technique. Jones
was a gold medallist at the regional tournament held in
T&T two months ago while Taylor, Providence and Boodram
captured silver medals.
“All
my fighters who lost then were beaten by boxers from the
Dominican Republic, which is established in amateur boxing
On the world stage,” said Martiniez.
The United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Dominican
Republic are highly favoured to dominate in the tournament
which runs until next Tuesday.
“We
have to fight hard to beat them but I feel at this moment
we are ready,” stated Martinez.
“This
tournament will tell us how far we have reached with our
female boxers and what we have to do to get them to the
next level,” added coach Martinez.
World Female Championships in China in November 22 to 30.
Martinez will be leaving next week Wednesday with light-welterweight
fighter, Bryan George for India to compete at the Commonwealth
Youth Games from October 13 to 19.
“We
only need one boxer to bring back home a medal,” Martinez
concluded.
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