Young boxers in Saint Lucia are the latest recipients of equipment from the Pompey Foundation, which this week presented a quantity of boxing gloves, hand wraps and training pads to the Saint Lucia Boxing Association.
The formal presentation was made by Serieana Pompey, whose father, John Pompey, is a former boxer and coach. Based in the US, the Pompey Foundation has donated sporting kit to several athletics clubs on island. Over the summer, the organisation also hosted its Pompey Mile Run.
National head coach Conrad Fredericks received the gear at the National Boxing Gym in Vigie, Castries. In an interview with St Lucia Times, he said the donation was greatly welcomed,
“He remembered what the gym has done for him,” said Fredericks, who coached Pompey more than two decades ago. “He remembered how far he has come from, even though he reached America, and now he ended up donating.
“We appreciate what he sent. I thank him so much for the things that he sent for the boxing gym. He didn’t study himself, he studied other boxers coming up in the gym, and he showed his gratitude for what we’ve done for him.”
The current gym is a far cry from what it was in Pompey’s day. With a footprint of over 2000 feet, the gym now boasts a full ring, along with tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment from the International Boxing Association (IBA).
“Back in around 2000 when Pompey was a member, we had a very small gym,” recalled Fredericks. “From the time he moved on, the gym has moved to another level. We have more boxers, we have a bigger gym.
“In his time, we had four bags, two big bags and two small ones. And now we have over 12 bags in the gym. We have a male and a female washroom. Everything is different from his time. Boxing has grown, and a lot of it came from what he did in his time.”
“I never forget where I came from,” said Pompey. “It feels great to be able to give back. My foundation was able to make a donation to Saint Lucia boxing. To God be the Glory.”
The boxing federation said in a release that the equipment donated by Pompey will be used in training and development programmes, especially at the school level. The association extended its appreciation to Pompey and his family for their continued support of boxing in Saint Lucia.
