Saint Lucia to Host Return of Caribbean Boxing Championships

Over 120 boxers will descend upon Saint Lucia for the AMBC Caribbean Boxing Championships, set to take place from February 28 to March 2 this year.

A 15-member team will represent Saint Lucia, comprising standout boxers from both Castries and Vieux Fort. To mitigate weather-related disruptions, the event will be hosted at the Beausejour Indoor Facility.

Ahead of the tournament, event facilitators held a press conference on Wednesday, in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports Conference Room where President of the Saint Lucia Boxing Association (SLBA) David Shakes Christopher revealed that several challenges had delayed the championship’s return to Saint Lucia since it was last hosted on the island in 2015. Those challenges included disputes in international boxing. 

The AMBC Caribbean Boxing Championships will feature the best boxers from across the region, including representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana, who are all members of the International Boxing Association (IBA). 

Additionally, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Maarten, and Puerto Rico are expected to participate in the event as they all compete for regional glory in thrilling boxing action. Seven Caribbean nations — Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, and Suriname — all of which operate under the rival World Boxing Organisation, will not participate in the competition.

Christopher urged the public to turn out in large numbers to support the athletes and celebrate the tournament’s return.

“For three years, we couldn’t host a Caribbean Championship due to international politics in boxing. But Saint Lucia has always kept boxing alive, and now we’re bringing the championship back where it belongs,” he stated. “We need the public to show up in large numbers to support these young warriors. They’ve trained hard, and they deserve our full backing.”

Director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, Jim Xavier, welcomed the return of the event. He highlighted the ministry’s significant investment in the sport, including the official hiring of a Cuban coach. Xavier also emphasised boxing’s transformative impact on young athletes.

“Boxing is a sport that promotes rehabilitation and keeps our young men on the right path. Many of our young people will tell you—boxing changed their lives,” he said. “The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports has been fully committed to the growth of boxing, investing in coaching, training, and infrastructure to ensure its continued success.”