Trinidad and Tobago boxers Eyed George and Tianna Guy both registered victories when the Ronald Wilson Memorial was hosted by the Barbados Boxing Association at the Graydon Sealy Secondary School in Bridgetown, Barbados on December 19.
The Ronald Wilson Memorial saw as many as seven fights on the card, with three of those fights involving schoolboy bouts, which saw fighters from gyms such as Downes Gym, Four Hill Gym and Shaka School.
In the women’s welterweight division (65 kg), Guy saw off the challenge from Bajan Tiffany Delice in the second of three rounds. From the opening bell, Guy showed her intent by landing a clean combination of jabs and punches, which threw Delice off her game. After the first round, Guy kept up the pressure early in the second round, with the referee being forced to stop the contest to give the Trinidadian boxer the victory.
In another fight, which saw a TT fighter up against a Bajan counterpart, George got the better of Kemara Stuart in their 80+ kg heavyweight bout. In what was a rematch of the pair’s tussle at Golden Fist Promotions’ Fight Night II event in Petit Valley just last month, George showed her mettle to once again get the better of Stuart in the highly-anticipated matchup via a unanimous decision.
Among the schoolboy bouts, there were wins for Shaka School’s Malachi Estwick and Jaden Shorte, as well as Four Hill’s Damarie Jack. There were also wins on the night for the Guadeloupe pair Gueliann Mirre and Ethan Procrain in their respective light middle and welterweight classes against Bajan opponents Jaquan Grant and Nathan Walcott.
NATIONAL boxer Tianna Guy is ready for her showpiece event at The Headliner at the National Cycling Velodrome, Couva, on September 27.
The event, hosted by TMG Productions and the Machel Cedenio Sporting Foundation, is a sporting and cultural occasion that will feature local and regional talents in boxing and stick fighting.
Guy, who has been called the “next Giselle Salandy,” said in a press conference that she hopes to honour the late Salandy’s legacy in the best way possible.
She is the first woman from TT to compete at the Commonwealth Games and she is a Continental silver medalist.
She will battle Grecia Nova from the Dominican Republic, who is formidable herself with a record of 18 wins, four draws and 32 losses.
Both athletes squared off at the event’s weigh-in at East Gates Mall, Trincity, on September 26, sparking tension between the two and building excitement among the watchful crowd.
The Headliner will also feature local male boxers Al-Jaleel Ortega Jokhu, Dinner Phillip and Darnell Sinaswee, as well as stick fighters Anderson Marcano, Randy Bynaille and Peter Noel. They will be batting against boxers from Jamaica, Venezuela and other parts of the region.
The event will begin at 7 pm and tickets are available at Big Life Apparel (Chaguanas) and CLX Gym (Tunapuna, Sangre Grande and Port of Spain). E-tickets can be purchased at caritickets.com.
A ten-bout amateur boxing card at Skinner Park in San Fernando on November 17 serves as the final chance for Trinidad and Tobago boxers to secure national team selection for the December 10 Caribbean Boxing Championships in St Lucia.
Eighteen boxers (15 males, three females) have already been shortlisted by the TT Boxing Association (TTBA) but must still go through final fitness tests and box-offs to confirm their spot on the squad.
Headlining the shortlist are two-time Olympian Nigel Paul (92+kg) and Aaron Prince (75kg) and top females Tianna Guy (60kg) and Eyed Angle George (80kg).
The November 17 fight card features five elite open, two elite novice, one junior and two schoolboy bouts for final team selection. This event is also part of San Fernando city month celebrations.
The card also serves as the TTBA’s penultimate event for 2024, concluding with the Caribbean Championships from December 10-15. The latter brings to an end the association’s 2020-2024 Olympic cycle.
The next Olympic cycle for TT boxers begins in January with the National Championship from January 22-26 at the Pleasantville Indoor Sporting Facility.
Shortlisted Boxers for Caribbean Championships
Male
Youth Age 17-18 – Neraj Mahadeosingh (57kg), Darnell Sinaswee (60kg), Ishamel Hypolite (63.5kg), Matthew Newallo (71kg), Arlon Reid (75kg), and Joshua Lewis (86kg)
Elite – Ortega Jokhu (48kg), Anthony Joseph (57kg), Donnell Phillip (63.5kg), Jemel Joseph (67kg), Jadeon Castillano (71kg), Aaron Prince (75kg), Jerimiah Thomas (80kg), Codel Lee (86kg) and Nigel Paul (92+kg)
Female
Faith Ramnath (48kg), Tianna Guy (60kg), Eyed Angel George (80kg)
November 17 Fight Card at Skinner Park
Shawn Ramnath (Faith Boxing) vs Jaheem Alexander (Golden Fist) – School Boys Division
Mikol Figueroa (YTC) vs Christian Gomez (De Silva Stars) – Elite Novice
Daniel Carraballo vs Prodigy) vs Kadeem Chandler (Fiath Boxing) – School Boys Division
Keiffer Marcia (De Silva) vs David Solano (Sandcity) – Elite Novice
Jerimiah James (YTC) vs Elijah Best (Prodigy) – Elite Novice
Joshua De Silva (Golden Fist) vs Cruge Adonnia (De Silva) – Elite Novice
Johnathan Ramdeen (Faith Boxing) vs Alyion Dalrymple (Biomel) – Junior
Jemel Joseph (Siparia) vs Shalom Phillip (Golden Fist) – Elite Open
Jadeon Castillano (Biomel) vs Randy Savage (Kick Punch) – Elite Open
Jeremiah Thomas (Golden Fist) vs Codel Lee (Sandcity) – Elite Open
Trinidad and Tobago women boxers Tianna Guy and Angel George boxed to silver at the XXXIX Feliks Stamm International Boxing Tournament in Poland on September 27.
In the 60kg gold medal match, Guy lost 5-0 on points to Poland’s Sandra Kruk. Kruk proved superior in each round and generated scores of 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27 to better the TT boxer.
In the earlier round, Guy eclipsed hometown favourite Hass Wiktoria 3-2 in a thriller that saw the judges favour the TT boxer via split decision.
Similarly, in George’s heavyweight 81+kg category final bout, she also went down 5-0 on points to Hungarian pugilist Veronika Nakota. The judges scored 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-26, 30-27 in favour of Nakota.
Both TT boxers held on to silver in their respective divisions.
On their achievements, the TT Boxing Association sent congratulations to the pair.
Their statement read, “They (Guy and George) continue to improve as they get ready for this Olympic cycle 2028. Their preparation will continue as their next challenge will be Caribbean Elite/Youth Championship in December in St. Lucia.”
Trinidad and Tobago boxers Tianna Guy and Angel George will go for gold in their respective weight divisions at the Feliks Simm International Boxing tournament in Poland on September 27.
Both athletes advanced to the final after dominant displays in their semi-final ties.
In the 60kg category, Guy eclipsed hometown favourite Hass Wiktoria 3-2 in a thriller which saw the judges favour the TT boxer via split decision.
Guy now gears up to face another Polish contender, Sandra Kruk in the gold medal bout.
George easily progressed to the heavyweight final and will meet Veronika Nakota of Hungary in a powerhouse battle.
This tournament is being used as much-needed preparation ahead of the 2025 Women’s World Championships in Serbia, in March.
MOUNTING Eagles sprinter Elijah Joseph considers himself a 200-metre specialist, but when the 2024 Paris Olympic Games get under way from July 26-August 11, he will have the sole goal of claiming a medal as a member of TT’s men’s 4x400m relay team.
On July 6, the 23-year-old Joseph was one of nine newcomers named to TT’s modest 17-member team for the games, joining the quartet of Jaden Marchan, Shakeem Mc Kay, Renny Quow and 2022 400m World Indoor champion Jereem Richards as a reserve for the 4x400m team.
At the NGC/National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAATT) Junior and Senior Championships from June 28-30, Joseph showed off his versatility when he made it to the finals of both the 200m and 400m events. In the 400m final, there was no stopping the impressive Richards who clocked a season’s best time of 44.72 seconds. Joseph copped fifth spot in 47.53 in the 400m distance, but he was able to notch a medal on the final day of the meet when he grabbed bronze in the 200m in 20.68.
Now, on the cusp of competing at the biggest meet of his young career, Joseph would love to grace the podium in France.
“I was talking to Jereem just recently and he was congratulating me on the accomplishment of making the team. He was telling me we have to bring back a medal for TT and that’s mainly the goal right now,” Joseph told the media, during the TT Olympic Committee’s (TTOC) launch of the TT contingent’s official Puma gear for the games on July 12.
In May, the quartet of Asa Guevara, Che Lara, McKay and Richards sealed TT’s 4x400m spot for the Olympics with a sterling run at the World Athletics Relay Championships in Nassau, Bahamas.
“It’s all about enjoying the moment. The main goal is really to bring back the gold medal for TT (in the 4x400m relays).”
Michelle-Lee Ahye and Elijah Joseph model their competitive wear at the Official Paris 2024-TeamTTO Puma Gear Reveal at the Olympic House, Woodford Street, Port of Spain on July 12. – Faith Ayoung
Joseph said it’s a wonderful feeling to get the opportunity to represent TT’s Olympic team, and he wants to make the most of his first appearance with a national team.
“I just thank God for the opportunity and for bringing me through. The preparations have been great,” Joseph said.
“I thank God for a healthy season. Day in, day out, I’ve been sacrificing and working hard. I’ve been trying to accomplish this goal and I’ve finally reached it.”
Joseph was among nine national athletes who modelled the Olympic team’s wear at Olympic House in PoS on July 12. Joseph and ace female sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye were the only athletes present from TT’s Olympic contingent. In an informal ceremony, a mixture of junior and senior athletes from sporting disciplines such as boxing, netball, volleyball and track and field showed off team TTO’s slick Olympic apparel, which included the village, warm-up, performance, competition, style and podium wear.
The athletes who showcased TT’s Olympic wear included 2024 Carifta gold medallist Dylan Woodruffe, men’s volleyballer Akim Bushe and top women’s boxer Tianna Guy.
The competitive wear is predominantly black, with a red, swirling design on the side of the uniform.
“The uniform feels great. This is my first time wearing it. This is my first national team for TT and I really appreciate this opportunity to just represent TT on the world stage,” Joseph said.
TTOC general secretary Annette Knott urged the public to throw their support behind the 17-member team.
“The team is heading to the Olympic Games. It’s not an easy feat. We take it for granted. What our athletes want is support,” Knott said, during a vote of thanks.
“I think today starts our journey on being very positive.”
AFTER missing out on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games following a qualifying loss in Thailand last month, Trinidad and Tobago boxer Tianna Guy will have a chance for redemption when she fights former Olympic champion Estelle Mossely at the International English Boxing Tournament in France on June 8.
Guy and fellow TT boxer Donnel Phillip will contest two bouts each at the four-day event, also set to include fighters from Algeria, Brazil, Spain and the host nation France. The event started on Wednesday, with the TT boxers scheduled to take to the ring at the Westfield Forum des Halles in Paris on Friday and Saturday.
Guy will contest the women’s 60kg class, with Phillip competing in the men’s 63.5kg class. The TT boxers will both square off against Spanish opposition on Friday, before tackling their French counterparts on Saturday.
At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mossely fought her way to women’s lightweight gold when she defeated China’s Yin Junhua in the final. Mossely also grabbed lightweight gold at the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Championship in 2016.
The Paris event will also feature French fighter Sofiane Oumiha, who has great pedigree. Oumiha is a three-time World lightweight champion (2017, 2021, 2023), while he also grabbed a lightweight silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.
Guy said she was “super grateful and thankful” to rub shoulders with two of France’s finest boxers.
“I missed out on the Paris Olympics. But thankfully, I’m here and getting to compete and represent TT in some form or fashion,” Guy told Newsday.
“The opportunity came about while I was in Thailand in the training camp. I did some work with Estelle.
“She’s a decorated boxer. After we did some work, they reached out and said they would love to have me here and the rest is history. I’m super excited about it.”
After her dreams of fighting in Paris for the 2024 Olympics were dashed in Bangkok, Guy will fight in the French capital against a former Olympic and world champion under different circumstances.
LOCAL athletes were urged to keep people around them who have their best interest at heart, which will help them remain a clean athlete.
The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC)/TT Commonwealth Games Association held its first-ever Athlete’s Forum yesterday at the Hilton Hotel in Port of Spain.
Many senior and junior athletes attended the forum. Some of the senior athletes who participated in the workshop were TT track and field athlete Kyle Greaux; TT boxers Tianna Guy, Nigel Paul, and Aaron Prince; national women’s football captain Kimika Forbes; TT table tennis player Aleena Edwards; and TT swimmer Cherelle Thompson.
Attorney Dave Williams was the lead coordinator in the session called “Why anti-doping is important?” Williams, with support from TTOC president Diane Henderson and TTOC executive member Dr. Terry Ali, spoke about the value of knowing what you are putting in your body, by discussing the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Athletes at the TTOC/TT Commonwealth Games Association’s Athlete’s Forum, on April 6, at the Hilton Trinidad, Port of Spain. – Photo by Roger Jacob
Henderson told the athletes that the people around them may lead to their downfall. Giving an example, she said, “Take this ‘Chris’ that will help you. Your trust is that person has your interest at heart and…you quickly pop it. You don’t know what is in that, what is their intention. I am just saying from here on forward you have to be aware and take your interest into your own hands. That’s why he (Williams) is saying you are culpable as long as that it’s found in your own system.”
Henderson said athletes may have to make difficult decisions during their careers. “Know who you surrounding yourself with. Yes, you might have to change your coach, you might have to change somebody when you reach that stage…because if you don’t trust somebody who is there and that is supposed to be for you and you feel that they are not taking your best interest at heart then what you are going to do?”
She then asked, “Who are the people right there in our circle?”
Williams supported Henderson. He said, “You can’t use as your defense that, ‘It’s my coach who gave it to me.’ You took it, yes. It was found in your system, yes. You are liable. You and your coach.”
Athletes at the TTOC/TT Commonwealth Games Association’s Athlete’s Forum, on April 6, at the Hilton Trinidad, Port of Spain. – Photo by Roger Jacob
Dr. Ali said not only national athletes must follow the anti-doping rules. “All sport now, irrespective of the level is being tested. We could come in and test you at any level, so don’t feel because you playing a junior league or a minor league or something like that, that you cannot be tested and you can try out a substance.”
Williams, who is also an executive member of the TTOC, said the athletes count on administrators to inform them.
“One of our responsibilities at TTOC is to educate you on the importance of being drug-free… if we fail to put in place what WADA has indicated that we need to put in place, then the TTOC as an NOC can be banned from taking part in Olympic games. So as part of what WADA requires of us is to have programs like these, so we could produce evidence to WADA that yes, we are playing our part. We are playing our part, we are training our athletes, we are informing our athletes as to the negative effects that doping could have on them.”
Brian Lewis, TTOC past president, speaks at the TTOC/TT Commonwealth Games Association’s Athlete’s Forum, on April 6, at the Hilton Trinidad, Port of Spain. – Photo by Roger Jacob
Among the others who supported the forum as speakers were immediate TTOC past president Brian Lewis, TTOC safeguarding officer Maria Thomas, attorney and president of the TT Gymnastics Federation Christopher George, and former national women’s rugby player Kwanieze John.
Trinidad and Tobago super heavyweight boxer Nigel Paul says he is working on getting himself in top shape as he aims to book his spot at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games at the second set of Olympic boxing qualifiers in May.
Paul, 34, was expected to join TT’s elite boxing team in a training camp in Spain ahead of preparations for the first boxing Olympic qualifier which will be held in Busto Arsizio, Italy from February 29 to March 12. However, owing to an injury, Paul opted against attending the training camp and subsequent qualifiers.
Instead, the imposing Paul is working towards the Olympic qualifiers which punches off in Bangkok, Thailand from May 23 and he is convinced he will be on the plane to Paris when the final punch is thrown.
“I feel good. Being one of the senior members of the team aside from Aaron Prince, the team really look at us to do something in terms of qualification,” Paul told Newsday on Monday, after being named as one of the sporting ambassadors for the Ministry of Sport and Community Development and Sport Company of TT’s (SporTT) I Choose Sport programme.
“Both Aaron Prince and I have been Olympians. The team is looking at us to qualify – maybe even both of us,” Paul said.
“Confidence-wise, I know the association is backing me 100 per cent. All the boxing fans are backing me so I am feeling ready and prepared. The confidence is high.”
In 2016 in his Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Paul was knocked out in the first round of his opening bout by Nigerian Efe Ajagba. In 2021, Paul made a bigger impact on the world stage when he captured TT’s first-ever International Boxing Association World Championships medal with a bronze medal finish in the super heavyweight +92kg class in Serbia.
In January, Paul tasted victory in the elite male 92.5kg final at the national championship in Pleasantville after his opponent withdrew from the bout due to injury.
Paul said he would have loved to be with the rest of the team for the first Olympic qualifier, but he wants to give himself the best chance of delivering the goods for TT.
“Unfortunately, I am not with the team. I stayed home to see about an injury I am recovering from. I am doing some therapy and that kinda thing,” Paul said. “I am trying to get myself to as close to 100 per cent as possible before I jump back into the ring.
“I am home and trying to get ready. I am trying to drop off the couple of extra pounds I would have gained from not being as active as I usually am. It is about trying to stay sharp and being as ready as I can for May.”
TT’s elite boxing team includes Paul, Prince, Angel George, Tianna Guy, Anthony Joseph, Ortega Jukhu, Donnell Phillips and Jeremiah Thomas. The team is coached by the pair of Reynold Cox and Ralwson Dopwell and they are expected to begin competitive action in the first Olympic qualifier on March 2.
Trinidad and Tobago boxer Tianna Guy, 27, is now a member of Hyphen8 Management.
“Hyphen8 Management is thrilled to announce the signing of a promising young talent in the world of boxing,” a media release said. “We are proud to welcome Tianna Guy, an Olympic prospect and national champion from Trinidad and Tobago, to our prestigious roster.”
Hyphen8 manages “multi-hyphenated” talent; sponsorship and partnership negotiation; brand management and partnerships; career development; and wealth management. Hyphen8 said it is dedicated to maximising opportunities for its talent and propelling them to the pinnacle of success.
Hyphen8 said it wanted to help Guy make it to the highest level in boxing.
“Having already achieved remarkable success at the national level, Tianna now sets her sights on the international stage, aiming for Olympic glory and further accolades. As a full-service management agency, Hyphen8 is committed to providing comprehensive support and guidance to all our talent. We will work closely with Tianna and continue to work with her team, Keion Alexander and Keegan Taylor, to cultivate her talent, help enhance her training regimen, and provide her with the necessary resources to excel in her boxing career and help build a well-rounded brand.”
TT boxer Tianna Guy –
Founder and director of Hypen8 Fela Oke said he was elated to have Guy on board.
“We are extremely excited to have Tianna join the Hyphen8 family.”
Over four separate visits by Oke to Trinidad over a nine-month period, Guy was put on the radar of Hyphen8 by Taylor, who was instrumental in the signing.
“We immediately spotted her exceptional talent as a boxer and brand. Her achievements and dedication to her craft are just a small part of what makes her a perfect fit for our agency. Tianna Guy to us is the epitome of a multi-hyphenate. We are committed to helping Tianna reach new heights and achieve her dreams in the world of boxing and beyond.”
On January 21, Guy, who represented the Gold Fist Boxing Club, stopped Siparia Boxing Gym’s Alesha King with a flurry of blows in round two in the National Boxing Championships elite female 63.5kg final.
In 2022, the Chaguanas boxer won bronze at the 26th annual International Acropolis Cup Boxing Tournament in Greece. She is currently in Spain with a national contingent preparing for the Olympic qualifiers, from February 29-March 12, in Italy.
A ten-member Trinidad and Tobago boxing contingent left Trinidad on January 26 for a camp and tournament in Spain.
The eight boxers and two coaches will use the coming weeks to prepare ahead of the first world qualifier to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The national elite team comprises of Olympians Nigel Paul and Aaron Prince, Jeremiah Thomas, Donnell Phillips, Anthony Joseph, Ortega Jukhu, Angel George and Tianna Guy.
The group is coached by Reynold Cox and Rawlson Dopwell.
The first Olympic qualifier punches off in Busto Arzizio, Italy, from February 29 to March 12. Trinidad and Tobago begin competition on March 2.
The tournament will feature 50 boxers and is being held for national Olympic committees that have not qualified an athlete for a specific weight category through their continental qualification tournament.
The second and final Olympic qualifier begins in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 23 to June 3.
ACE female boxer Tianna Guy and Olympic boxer Nigel Paul were among the championship winners when the National Boxing Championships concluded at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Pleasantville on Sunday.
Guy, who represented the Gold Fist Boxing Club, needed just two rounds in her elite female 63.5kg final against Siparia Boxing Gym’s Alesha King before the referee brought an end to the fight after a series of blows from Guy.
The Gold Fist Boxing Club pugilist was happy for the opportunity to fight on home soil in her weight class.
“I want to say thank you to Alesha King for coming out and making the fight happen. Overall, it was a good performance as I was able to execute some of the things we were doing in training,” said Guy, who had the lone bout at the championships.
On her quest to get to the Paris 2024 Olympics, next week, Guy will be one of several TT boxers who will leave for a preparation tournament in Alicante, Spain. The tournament will be followed by a training camp in Alicante from February 5-28.
“I was able to work on a lot of combinations and punch outputs and we worked on a lot of body shots,” Guy told Newsday. “That was the main focus for us (heading into the national championships).”
Following the three-week training camp, Guy and her teammates will try to punch their tickets to the Olympics when the qualifiers are held from February 29 to March 11.
“Going forward for the Spain tournament, training camp and Olympic qualifiers, it is all about improving and seeing how many things I can get right at the right moment,” she said.
Guy said competing on the international stage is a different ball game, and she pointed to the ” importance of going to Spain and seeing how close we are to achieving that goal.”
Though Guy fought her way past King, Paul did not have to lift a finger for his title win in the elite male 92.5kg final, as Tyrone St Clair was a no-show for the clash of the heavyweights. St Clair sustained a thumb injury in the build-up to the final, with his trainer opting to withdraw him from the bout with Paul.
There was a similar outcome in the elite male 71kg international bout with Jamaican boxer Tevoy Bharath prevailing against the absent Aaron Prince.
Angel George, who was one of the boxers to represent TT at the 2023 Pan Am Games, won on points in her elite female 81kg final against her Gold Fist Boxing Club compatriot Michelle Durham.
In the elite male 80kg international bout, Jeremiah Thomas got the better of Yuray Preval, with Paul Newallo and Dar Sinaswee winning their respective youth male 71kg and 63.5kg finals. Neraj Mahadeosingh won his youth male 57kg final against Anferney Baptiste.
In the elite novice finals, Youth Training Centre boxer Nicholas Balcom (60kg), Joshua De Silva (67kg) and Darius Pitt (71kg) emerged victorious.
Anthony Joseph and Donnell Phillip won their respective elite male 57kg and 63.5kg finals against Abdul Taylor and Jemel Joseph.
TRINIDAD and Tobago boxer Tianna Guy lost her opening bout at the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, in Istanbul, Turkey, on Wednesday.
Guy, competing in the round of 32 of the featherweight 54-57kg category, lost to Sitora Turdibekova of Uzbekistan on points 5-0. The five judges all gave Turdibekova the edge in the contest.
Both fighters had a first round bye.
Turkdibekova, the taller fighter, threw more punches in the early stages of the contest but failed to connect.
She continued to be the more aggressive fighter throughout most of the first round, but Guy tried a couple of combinations in the closing stages of round one.
At the end of round one the five judges all had Turkdibekova leading the fight 10-9.
When round two began both Turkdibekova and Guy held each other regularly.
The holding continued but with 30 seconds remaining Guy attacked Turkdibekova in an attempt to get back in the bout.
Turkdibekova continued to lead the fight heading into the third and final round.
Guy came out blazing in round three in an effort to pick up some much-needed points. She attacked Turkdibekova, but the fighter from Uzbekistan did enough to hold on for a comfortable victory.
All five judges agreed that Turkdibekova deserved to advance.
TT will play no further part at the championships. This country’s other fighter Faith Ramnath lost her opening bout in the minimum weight 45-48kg category on points 5-0, on Tuesday.
Australian Madeleine Bowen was too strong for Ramnath.
ELITE national boxer Tianna Guy is now ranked 27th in the female featherweight division in the world. Guy’s ranking was posted by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) recently.
The Enterprise resident, who has only been boxing for just under two years, has competed in some of the toughest events in women’s boxing in the last year. Her biggest event was the Women’s World Championships in India in November 2018, where she eventually bowed out to the 2017 Youth World champion IM Ijei from South Korea.
She also participated in the Central America and Caribbean Games and earned bronze at the American Boxing Confederation Continental Games. The elated pugilist said the ranking has motivated her tremendously and has promised to work her way up to the number one spot over the next few years.
“I know it is a long road and I have many competitions to overcome, but I am determined to be the best that I can be in this sport. The square ring is now my territory and one day I will achieve my goals,” she said.
Bharrath Ramoutar, her coach at Fine Line Fight Factory, is excited about the potential of the 22-year-old. Ramoutar has experience in producing world class fighters, including TT’s first female boxing world champion Ria Ramnarine.
He said, “Tianna is truly an exemplary athlete. Her discipline is second to none and that’s one of the most important factors for success. She loves the sport and makes all the necessary sacrifices to accommodate all training sessions and competition schedules. Tianna will carry the flag of boxing really far – she is definitely Olympic material.”
National coaches Ria Ramnarine and Reynold Cox are also very enthusiastic about Guy’s career. Cox described Guy as an exceptional athlete, while Ramnarine said she is truly happy to see another female excelling in the sport. “I am so excited and happy to see the progress she has made. She is a very determined girl with a never-say-die attitude and there is no doubt she is going to go very far in this sport.”
Guy will be competing at an open invitational in the Dominican Republic next month.
