Young, Shagourie training well for World Champs

Leighton Levy, Gleaner Writer

Training has been going well for Jamaica's Britain-based boxers, Reece Shagourie and Javon Young, as they prepare for the International Boxing Association (AIBA) World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, that will run from September 22 to October 10.

The championships will also act as the first qualifier for the Olympic Games to be held in London next year.

Young, 25-year-old, a light heavyweight, and Shagourie, a 23-year-old welterweight, have been in Baku under the 'Road to Baku' programme since September 9 preparing for the championships. They are being accompanied by veteran coach Barrington Graham.

According to Jamaica Boxing Board president Stephen Jones, the Jamaican contingent has settled in nicely.

"They like the facilities," he said yesterday. "I am expecting a report from coach Graham soon, but I spoke with Javon, who said everything is going well."

Jamaica is among the several countries invited to participate in the 'Road to Baku' programme, Jones said, because the international community is eager to see Jamaica return to the world stage in international boxing.

The programme is designed to help poor countries develop boxing talent for the future. And AIBA, considering the lack of means to provide the necessary levels of training and to send boxers to international competition, has taken a decision to intervene. As such, AIBA is covering the cost of airfare, ground transportation and room and board for the duration of the camp - from September 9 to 21 - and for the championship, hotel and meals for the duration of the tournament. It presents a great opportunity for the Jamaicans there.

"They are excited to have got this kind of clinic, this high-quality training and to see what it is like to experience boxing at its highest level," Jones said.

Coach Graham, he said, will also get a chance to learn a lot about what it takes to get local boxers back to international competence, and on his return will share that knowledge with the local fraternity.

Jones says he hopes that the next time such an opportunity comes around Jamaica will be able to send more than just a couple of boxers and a coach, but a boxer from each weight category, exposing even more fighters to the highest levels of training.

"The gyms are filling up across the island and it would be nice to give these up-and-coming talents greater levels of exposure," he said.

At the conclusion of the tournament, Young and Shagourie will return to their bases in the United Kingdom for week, before departing for Guadalajara, Mexico, where they will represent Jamaica at the Pan American Games. The Games will run from October 14-30.