President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), KD Persaud, made this assertion during the GBBC reception to honour the two world champions at Cara Inn, Pere Street, Kitty, Saturday night.

Acting President Samuel Hinds, Mrs Hinds, Leader of the Opposition Hugh Desmond Hoyte, Minister of Tourism, Industry & Commerce Manzoor Nadir, president of the Guyana Olympic Association and the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association, K Juman-Yassin, and other boxing officials attended the ceremony.

Persaud pointed out that boxing is the only sport that has brought world champions to the country and all during the tenure of the present GBBC executive, predicting at least two more in the not-too-distant future.

“With these two Guyanese athletes winning world titles, it has cemented our position on the international scene, at the political bargaining table and wherever Guyana will feature prominently, the flags will be kept fluttering very high,” Persaud said.

Boxing’s top brass called on the Ministry of Sport and the private sector to help finance rehabilitation of the many defunct and existing gyms, putting in place the “right mechanism and personnel” to manage the affairs.

“The foundation is being laid with the ‘Sixhead’ gym, but we need to see many more gyms established around the country for the professional and, in particular, amateur levels,” Persaud said.

Persaud predicted that with the accomplishment of Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis and now Braithwaite and Harris, boxing would be stimulated at the amateur and professional levels, with the boxing board being prepared to improve the sport.

The boxing official said the three world champions have set “sterling examples” for many other athletes to emulate, not only in boxing but also in other sport disciplines.

“It is a clear indication that once you are determined, disciplined, dedicated and have the will to win and achieve, coupled with conditioning your minds and bodies, your can assert to greater heights,” Persaud said.

The GBBC head said that the boxers have acquired celebrity status but warned them about complacency so that they could hold on to the title for a “prolonged” period, unlike Lewis.

“Winning world titles is no easy thing. These gentlemen can tell you; getting to the top was no easy task. But remaining at the top is even more difficult,” Persaud declared.

The GBBC boss gave a synopsis of each boxer’s career and said he looked forward to the boxers unifying their respective divisions.

Minister Dale Bisnauth who deputised for Minister of Sport Gail Teixeira, said the two boxers have reached heights beyond Guyana and the Caribbean, to worldwide recognition.

“The country is not only proud of you, but grateful to you for having lifted our spirits when it needed to be lifted,” Minister Bisnauth said.

Braithwaite and Harris were presented with real gold medals, which GBBC secretary Trevor Arno described as “purer” than gold.

Arno also handed over Braithwaite’s runner-up Sportsman-of-the-Year 2000 prize, which he had kept since collecting it on behalf of the boxer.

Trainers Colin Morgan, Lennox Blackmore who was Guyana’s first Commonwealth champion, and Maurice ‘Bizzy’ Boyce were also presented with awards.