Boxing: Indian Ocean tournament |08 August 2013

 Coach Payet satisfied with boxers’ performances

Coach Rival Payet is generally satisfied with the performance of the three boxers who took part in the Indian Ocean boxing tournament in Reunion.

Keddy Agnes, who won a bye straight to the final, defeated a Reunion opponent in the +91kg category final and coach Payet feels he could have even won by knockout if he had the stamina.

Our two other medallists are reigning Sportsman of the Year Andrique Allisop who lost to John Collin of Mauritius in the -60kg category. Coach Payet believes Allisop was a victim of the new scoring system which he admitted our boxers are not familiar with since it was only introduced in June this year.

Achille David also lost his final fight in the -56kg category to Mauritian Yannish Hupersard on a 0-3 score.
Bearing in mind the different difficulties local boxers have been facing with training venues, coach Payet noted that he thinks they could have done better if they had had more time to acclimatise as they arrived in Reunion too close to the competition.

Meanwhile, Seychellois fighters were supposed to take part in the 18th African senior competition which was to take place in Mauritius form September 1-7.  The competition was to serve as a qualification for the world championships to be held in Kazakhstan from October 4-20.

But Seychelles Amateur Boxing Federation’s chairperson Hervé Anthony has said that Mauritius has decided not to host this competition due to some disagreement with the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (Aiba).

Chairperson Anthony is doubtful the African competition will take place.

However, on the local front chairperson Anthony is happy that space has been earmarked at the Freedom Square close to the weightlifting gym for a new boxing gym to be built.

In a new development, coach Jerry Legras left Sunday for Italy where he is following a one-week three-star coaching course under a new Aiba recommendation.

R. J-L.