Slashed budget endangers undercardSunday, July 26 2009
A DRASTICALLY reduced subvention from Government has placed in danger the undercard of the upcoming world title fight featuring Trinidad and Tobago’s Ria Ramnarine on Friday.
It is understood that the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control headed by chairman Brian Lewis has cut by more than half the budget submitted by show promoter Boxu Potts.
As a result, Potts is uncertain whether he can afford to put on the three fights on the undercard featuring Kevin Placide, a former World Boxing Empire (WBE) title-holder; Shawn Corbin, a Guyanese domiciled in Trinidad and Tobago and looked as a future world champion; and female boxer Tiana Sosa-Saney who is also seen as a future prospect.
The card is scheduled for Friday at the Chaguanas Indoor Regional Auditorium at Saith Park with Ramnarine matching fists with Ana Fernandez of Venezuela over ten rounds.
At stake is the World Boxing Association (WBA) Interim World Title with the winner assured of a shot at the championship and the World Boxing Council (WBC) Fedelatin crown.
Yesterday Potts described the decision by the Boxing Board of Control to severely reduce the budget as a “cruel blow” for the up and coming pugilists who he said have been robbed of a paypacket.
He said the boxers have been deprived of earning an honest dollar and their hard work in preparing for their bouts is likely to go unrewarded and will have the effect of demotivating them.
“Is this the message ther Boxing Board of Control is trying to send to the young people of Trinidad and Tobago. Is this how we want to treat our sportsmen an women who have the courage and fortitude to get involved in the most demanding and punishing sport known to man?” he asked.
Potts said the Boxing Board of Control is totally unjustified in taking it upon themselves to conduct an “accounting exercise” and questioned their motive for doing such especially when it will affect young people desperately seeking motivation and encouragement in healthy pursuits.
“The eventual success of the young people will rebound to the benefit of the entire society and to the country on the international stage. This is something that cannot be quantified in terms of dollars and cents. But the Boxing Board of Control cannot understand this,” said Potts.
He said the precedent has already been set as similar budgets were approved when Giselle Salandy fought before her death in a vehicular accident last January.
Under Potts, Salandy garnered at least nine international championships belts and was undefeated at the time of her demise. She has since been declared “Eternal Champion” by the WBC, the first such honour afforded to a female boxer anywhere in the world.
“We have the blueprint for producing champions and honour and glory to this country. What is the Boxing Board of Control trying to say? That what was good for Salandy is not good for Ramnarine, Placide, Sosa- Saney and Corbin?,” asked Potts.
He called for good sense to prevail and for the Boxing Board of Control to stick to their mandate and not take up functions that they are not required to do and make a meaningful contribution to the sport.
He said it was instructive that when the new Boxing Board of Control was appointed, the first thing Government did was increase eight-fold the stipend of the chairman and ordinary members.
“We welcome this increased renumeration for the officials but are at a loss when they turn around and try to minimise the rewards that the hard working boxers are due. It makes no sense to us,” said Potts.
He said chairman of the Boxing Board of Control Lewis is in a unique position to understand what it means to the boxers to be paid for a job as he also occupies several other positions such as general secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee; president of Caledonia AIA Football Club and is also involved with the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union.
These posts are in addition to his day job as an insurance consultant.
Potts pleaded with the Boxing Board of Control to be more forward thinking and move in sync with the Government in presenting opportunities for the young boxers and not try and deny them their rightful due.
