The world champions were accompanied on their visit to the COS by a large entourage, which included Claire Small, Orin Argyle and local boxing promoter Herman Harris.

Small and Argyle are the parents of Braithwaite while Herman Harris is the father of Vivian Harris. The fathers of both boxers have served the GDF with distinction.

Both boxers were presented with golden tokens by Second-in-Comand of the GDF, Colonel (Col.) Edward Collins and the Officer Responsible for Administration and Quartering, Col. Lennox Wilson.

In welcoming the two pugilists, on behalf of the officers and ranks of the GDF, Brigadier Atherly congratulated them on their outstanding achievements and expressed his sentiments on the historic record they have created.

"You have done Guyana, the CARICOM Region and all those who associated with you proud... If we were to carefully check our records, we would find that history was created by the two of you; never was such a remarkable feat achieved at the national level where two boxers from the same country, within a short period, became world champions."

The COS noted the important role that the GDF has played over the years in the boxing fraternity, especially in the amateur category and particularly in providing the usage of its facilities to both amateur and professional boxers in Guyana.

"In Guyana, it is widely known that boxing is a sport the military likes to associate itself with. Clearly because it is one of a fighting nature; it is a contact sport and we saw it fit to get ourselves very involved because it is relevant to the profession of the military and, I am sure that both of you know that the GDF has played a very dominant role in amateur boxing over the last four decades," said Atherly.

The COS said that the GDF had significantly contributed to boxing in Guyana, noting that the army in some meaningful way was involved in any single pugilist graduating from the amateur category to the professional ranks.

"I think that our boxing coach, Sergeant Lennox Daniels, is probably the person in Guyana who we can say has put the greatest single personal contribution into amateur boxing in this country. I do not think that we might be able to pinpoint anybody else who has contributed more; for he has worked exceedingly well in the GDF and also outside of this institution to produce boxers of quality standard," said the COS.

Brigadier Atherly pledged the GDF's continued support to amateur boxing and to the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association as well as to the Guyana Boxing Council.

"The GDF is going to continue to support amateur boxing in Guyana, not just to see the amateurs do well but also have that essential spill-over into the professional ranks," said the COS.

The two world champions ended their visit after interacting and sharing views with Officers and Other Ranks in the Camp Ayanganna Auditorium where their fathers expressed their joy and future expectations.