by Sherrylyn A. Clarke

TWO of the island's top boxers and the Amateur Boxing Association of Barbados (ABAB) received a capital injection from the Barbados Boxing Board of Control on Wednesday evening at the National Sports Council.

Boxers Shawn Terry Cox and Anderson Emmanuel were on the receiving end, while president Joyce Bowen accepted on behalf of the ABAB.

"The Barbados Boxing Board is extremely happy with the performance of these two outstanding boxers. We also want to recognize the efforts of the administration," said acting chairman George Edghill.

He expressed the hope that the funds would be used to make a better home for boxing, but also wanted to see more athletes from the secondary schools in the sport.

"In the past, the nucleus came out of the Government Industrial School, but now you are in the [secondary] schools, we should see more fighters emerging. When you reach the pinnacle and have all your trophies, you have the option of going pro."

Edghill reiterated a point he had made several years ago when he was in charge of the Barbados Cycling Union, urging Government to put money into the sports which bring medals. He identified boxing, athletics, cycling and swimming, but said the other sports could not be discriminated against.

Boxing has consistently done well at regional and international competition. In 2006, heavyweight Emmanuel won gold at the Caribbean Boxing Championships, and bronze at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games.

Cox brought home silver from CAC and now has one medal of each colour from those games. He also earned a silver medal at the regional championships. This followed a sterling 2005 where he was the National Sports Personality Of The Year after winning gold at the Caribbean Championships and silver at the Pan Am Boxing Championships.

President Bowen thanked the Boxing Board for the donations and said the funds would be used to help the boxers achieve their goals.