WALTER ALIBEY
T&T's Olympic boxer Nigel Paul is among a shortlist of 25 fighters seeking to be included in the final team that will be shortly selected to represent at the Car�ibbean Boxing Cham�pionship which will take place from De�cember 5-11 in Bar�bados.
Paul who was knocked down during his Su�per-heavyweight en�counter with Nigerian Efe Ajagba in the first round at the August Rio Olympics will be the ace card for the T&T team, along with the equally talented Michael Alex�ander in the lightwelter weight division and wel�terweight Aaron Prince.
But the sport's tech�nical director Reynold Cox pointed to a number of upcoming fighters he believes will fly the red, white and black with pride at the champion�ship, particularly in the Elite class where heavy�weight Brandon Dennis, Mike Inniss (56kg) and Kyleron Ruiz (69kg) will campaign.
Cox, a former boxer for the T&T Defence Force, said although they do not have as strong a team as last year, he has high hopes for the elite team which he is certain will return home with medals and trophies. According to Cox, attempts are be�ing made to get two re�serves for the elite team, in the names of Akmal Stroude and Christian Mc Donald.
Apart from the elites, the local contingent will also comprise a Novice category consisting- Kevin Ramdoo (49kg), Anthony Ravello (60kg), Nicholas Alexander (64kg), Aaron Williams (75kg) and Chad Warwick (91kg): a Youth category- Moses Dempster (56kg), Jacob Andrews (60kg), Rahim Felix (64kg), Daniel Ajim (69kg) and Nickell Joseph (75kg).
The contingent also comprises a Junior cat�egory that will feature Nyrel Hosein (48kg), Tyreke Hosein (50kg), Joshua Sylvester (66kg) and Tyrone St Clair (80kg) as well as a Wom�en category that will have Renesha Johnson, Kelly Ford and Shantell Adams in the line-up.
Yesterday, Cox de�scribed the team as be�ing very talented overall, noting he is expected a good show from them at the tournament.