‘Gloves over Guns’ as G.C. Foster College set to change boxing landscape
Published:Wednesday | March 30, 2022 | 12:13 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Boxing Association (JBA) Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones says he expects his organisation’s partnership with G.C. Foster College to lead to an upgrade in local boxers, coaches and officials.
The partnership, which was announced on Tuesday at the Spanish Town-based institution, will see the college hosting seminars for coaches and officials, while the gym, which was also sanctioned as the JBA third national gym, will provide high-quality technical and physical trainers for its boxers.
“What this partnership represent to us is upgrade. Upgrade of our coaches, upgrade of our officials.
“So now we will have officials and coaches that will be upgraded here at G.C. Foster. We are looking at having seminars for officials and coaches and once we tell them we are having a seminar, they will fill the classrooms,” Jones told The Gleaner.
“We are also pushing the initiative ‘Gloves over Guns’ and Spanish Town is one of the communities that needs it drastically, and G.C. Foster is a secure place. Mentorship will come from there and the fact that the institution can start a programme, it will go far in assisting young boys and girls to come out of this as quality and prepared boxers.
“We are excited about what is happening and we expect these things from this partnership,” he said.
Jones also disclosed that the association was working with the college to make boxing an official part of the school’s curriculum and that they were working out with the school’s principal, Maurice Wilson, on how to proceed.
SCOPE WILL CHANGE
“The principal will guide us on how we do that and it will take a little while but I think that is where we will go and once that happens, the whole scope will change,” he said.
Wilson, who declared his affinity for the sport, said the partnership was long in coming and he anticipates nothing but success for the programme.
“First of all, I think the slogan ‘Gloves over Guns’ must mean something and we are located in a space where a lot of youngsters need guidance and I believe boxing can change their lives.
“A lot of famous boxers turned their lives around by getting involved in sporting activities, especially boxing.
“So with this collaboration we should be able to formalise the youngsters’ technical and physical training and give them proper equipment and the right guidance, not only to stay out of problems, but also to give them an opportunity to become professional sportspersons.
“This is a great moment for G.C. Foster College and the best place for this collaboration. We are the genesis of information mechanically, physically, technically and practically, so I am confident that this collaboration will be successful,” said Wilson.
The partnership was also supported by the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), which was represented by vice president Jacqueline Cowan, the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), represented by general manager, Denzil Wilks, and members of the college’s top brass.
“I expect this to be one of our top-performing gyms,” said Jones.
“With our programme here and with G.C. Foster being the institution that it is, our programme will get worldwide acclaim.”