Pyke named best female boxer at championships

Amateur boxer Candice Pyke had a lot to celebrate on Sunday when she was named the "Female Boxer of the Tournament” at the T&T Amateur Boxing Association (TTABA) prize-giving ceremony at the VIP Lounge, Hasely Crawford Stadium, on Sunday.

After an 18-month hiatus from the sport, during which time she gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Pyke returned to competition full of grit and determination. 

Stepping into the ring at the National Championships, which took place from January 30 - February 3 at the Woodbrook Youth Facility, against the highly touted Ingle Charles, Pyke used a tight defense and short solid flurries of punches to outscore her opponent. Her victory earned her the national lightweight gold medal.

Pyke, who has won the "Female Boxer of the Year" three times since 2009, is known for her craftiness and aggression in the ring and has impressed the officials of the amateur boxing fraternity. Though caring for a young baby, Pyke is full of energy and eager to continue her training. She's willing to step up to the task of securing an Olympic spot and is now regarded as the one who may lead the female team to the 2016 Olympics.

“When I first saw Candice Pyke, my first thought was, ‘hey, this young lady is world class,’ said TTABA special advisor Boxu Potts.

“Candice had the tools and the talent to go all the way to the top, but something happened and she disappeared only to find out she was pregnant. 

“I was a bit disappointed because at that time I was thinking 2012 Olympics for her. Teenage pregnancy stymied her career. My observation in all of this is that juvenile delinquency and teenage pregnancy is plaguing our nation. We have children making children, which are causing a further decay in the society,” expounded Potts.

“I am now appealing to the men and women of the boxing fraternity and the Amateur Association to let us all be the parent of Candice and her daughter. We must be able to mentor and council her while giving her the sustainable support to ensure she finds a place in our upcoming global games, such as Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, World Games and the Olympics. 

“She does need the help and if we reach out to her in a positive way, educate and assist her with her growth and development our nation will reap positive rewards from this talented young lady. We must teach sex education, moral and core values to our children which will enable them to grow and develop to become better citizens so the nation can benefit from our youths,” declared Potts.

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