“You have shown the world we are winners” – PM Nagamootoo
– “this is not an overnight success, its hard work”- Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen
– Guyanese are capable of excelling, we can achieve the best
DPI, Guyana, Friday, February 22, 2019
Recently-crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Middleweight Boxing Champion Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen paid a courtesy visit on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, today, at his Official Residence.
During his visit, Allen told the Prime Minister that he began his amateur boxing career in Guyana at age 13, “It has been thirteen to thirty-three; a 20-year career span so far. This is not an overnight success, its hard work.” Allen explained. He shared that he began training at the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym. Today he has improved his ring-record to 22 wins and one draw in 23 outings and he has been maintaining his unbeaten streak.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo listened to Allen with pride as he congratulated him, “I speak on behalf of the President and the Government of Guyana, we identify with you. Thank you very much for making us proud and this a good time as we are celebrating our 49-Republic Anniversary, this comes at the perfect time for the country.”
The Prime Minister continued, “We want to tell the world that Guyanese are capable of excelling, we are capable of achieving the best.” He further noted that Allen’s win has shown the naysayers that “we [Guyana] can win, this is the image we need the people of the world to know about Guyana.”
Allen knocked down Derrick Webster in the third round (for a 10-8 round) and was ahead on the scorecards from that point onwards in the fight which took place at the Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minnesota, USA on Friday (February 15). At the end of the contest, two judges scored the fight 98-91, while the other had it 97-92, all in favour of Allen, giving the 33-year-old Brooklyn-based Guyanese a Unanimous Decision win.
Since his return to these shores on Wednesday Allen has attended a reception at City Hall hosted in his honour. He also visited several schools along the East Bank of Demerara where students came out to greet him on his drive into the capital city. And this evening he is a guest of honour at the Flag Raising Ceremony at Durban Park.
Rebecca Ganesh.
Images: Kennyann Bacchus.