'Boxing lacks infrastructure'

Andrew Harris, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica Boxing Board of Control's (JBBC) second vice-president, Leroy Brown, strongly believes that better infrastructure can aid in the revitalisation of the sport in Jamaica.

Brown who has served in various capacities within the board over the past decade, spoke of the sport's plight during a special Gleaner Editors' Forum on the role of sports in national development.

"The lack of adequate infrastructure is one of our greatest problems," Brown said.

"There are a number of gyms across Jamaica, but they don't have the facilities needed to to properly develop boxers."

Brown, in making his appeal, pointed to the tradition and potential of boxing and the dream of many youngsters in post-Independence to become Commonwealth and world champions in the sport.

He said boxing was one of the sports that helped to put Jamaica on the map in terms of sporting achievements pointing to former champions Bunny Grant, Michael McCallum, and the late Trevor Berbick.

Brown said that while the sport has made some strides in recent times, especially with the assistance of Wray and Nephew through their sponsorship of the popular television series, The Contender, a lot more could be done.

"The need is high for boxing equipment to make great boxers. We also need to fix the problems facing the introduction of boxing at the high-school level where most parents see boxing as more dangerous than football. But boxing is not more dangerous than football," he said.

Brown also said that while not every youngster who participates in boxing will become a millionaire by winning a world championship title, there are still a lot of benefits that boxing offers, including character and personal development.