Newby lauds sponsors at Hands of Gold launch

Leroy Brown, Gleaner Writer

Senator Warren Newby, parliamentary secretary in the ministry of youth, sport and culture, lauded the stellar contribution being made to sport in Jamaica by private-sector sponsors, on Wednesday, as he gave the keynote address at the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control's launching ceremony for the 2011 Hands Of Gold Boxing Series, at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston.

It was announced then, that Jamaica's Nicholas Walters, the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin featherweight champion, will defend his title against Argel Salinas of Mexico, in an 11-round fight at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium, Jamaica College, on Thursday, June 16.

The semi-final will see Jamaica's Sakima Mullings meeting Guyana's Winston Pompey for the vacant Commonwealth Zonal middleweight title. Middleweight champion Rikardo Smith will fight Anthony Osbourne in the third professional fight on the card and there will also be some amateur contests as curtain-raisers.

gov't can't do it alone

Senator Newby confided that with the best intentions in the world, the Government of Jamaica could not on its own do all that was needed to sponsor sporting events islandwide. Private sponsors, he said, had over the years played a substantial role in the development of sports and the athletes who engage in various sporting activities.

"When sponsors provide the financial assistance needed to foster the growth of sports, they assist the young people who are our future and who help to make our nation great," he said. He then urged the various sponsors to continue their valuable work, and reminded them that "by investing in the Jamaican youth, you are investing in our country and making life in the long run better for everyone, yourselves included."

New boxing board president, Stephen Jones, was pleased that a card featuring a young Jamaican boxing star was being put on, as the sport continued its comeback, and he too pointed to the value of sponsors to boxing.

"We cannot do it without your help" he stated and then paid tribute to the many companies who had pledged their support for the card.

Kay Osbourne, general manager of TVJ, said that it had been a pleasure for the RJR Group to be associated with the recently concluded Contender series. "We are involved in boxing for the long haul," she promised and said that it was a good sign that so soon after the end of that series, another major boxing card had been lined up.

Other speakers included Sonita Abrahams, executive director of RISE Life Management Services, who saw boxing as an outlet for some of the young men she dealt with daily, who wanted a constructive outlet for their anger and frustrations.

Gordon Clarke, director of Rum Bar Rum, one of the sponsors, expressed pleasure at the opportunity to give back to sports. Guadalupe Sanchez Salazar, deputy chief of mission in the Mexican Embassy, told the gathering some of the achievements of Mexican boxers in the past, and predicted that Salinas would be a more than worthy opponent for Walters.