La Piazza at the Prospect Reef Hotel is the place to be tomorrow evening with the Territory’s first ever boxing matches set to get in high gear at 7:30 p.m. Even though the seven-match amateur boxing card is not featuring any fighters from the Territory, it will highlight stiff match ups between top U.S. Virgin Islands amateur boxers coming up against the best of Puerto Rico’s.

The event is also expected to feature at least one exhibition match between female boxers of the USVI and the demonstration of boxing techniques.

Two-time amateur boxing champion of the USVI Julian Jackson will also be a guest at the event and may also be putting on his gloves in a friendly sparring bout.

The event is expected to create interest in the sport, with the four-week old BVI Boxing Federation already working tediously to recruit boxers, and to have at least one representative sent to the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association Championships slated for St. Thomas from July 10 through July 19 at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Centre, according to Public Relations Officer of the BVIBF Hezekiah Maddox.

 “We expect a good turn out we are hoping for at least 200 persons. We just want to generate the interest, make it affordable for any body to come,” Maddox noted pointing out to the reasonable admission charges of $5. for adults and $1 for children under 12.

A professional boxing ring, lights and other accessories will help to ensure patrons enjoy an exciting and entertaining night of amateur boxing, Maddox said.

Maddox said the ultimate goal of the event however, is to be the foundation to gain support to get the BVIBF to kick start a programme that will serve as a juvenile delinquency preventation programme as well as help improve the academic level of the participants.

Maddox said there is no question about the talent that exist in the Virgin Islands and noted that it was the young people who pushed the now members of the boxing association to get it started.

The boxing card was put on with the support of the USVI Amateur Boxing.

The newly formed association also has the support of the Minister for Education Andrew Fahie.

Meanwhile, persons interested on taking up the sport can contact Hezekiah Maddox on 496-8414 or Stacy Mather at 442-2072.

Maddox encourage persons to come out and support the programme and any young persons who they think can benefit from what amateur boxing has to offer.This weekend’s big match ups are:

St. Thomas                                           Puerto Rico

Raphael Ramirez 69kg/152 lbs          vs       John Perez

Samuel Rogers 69kg/152lbs             vs        David Salcedo

Henry Lawrence 69kg/152 lbs           vs       Jose L. Segarra

Lavan Maddox 48kg/106lbs               vs       Edgar Feliciano

Shane Edwards 60kg/132lbs             vs       Alberto Mercado

Joshua Danet 54kg/119 lbs               vs       Carlos R. Berbereria

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