Caymanian boxer Chris Hurlston has decided to take his fighting career to lengths only those who are determined would venture.
Hurlston stepped away from Grand Cayman several weeks ago and is now training in England on his own dime.
“I had to get the feel of a new environment to feel like I want to box again,” Hurlston told the Cayman Compass.
His comment comes on the heels of fellow boxer Jaden Eccleston voicing similar frustrations that forced him to take actions into his own hands.
“I got kind of let down when I saw how easily Cayman could’ve walked away with gold if I got to attend the Caribbean Championships, but we didn’t attend due to an unfortunate turn of events with the (Cayman Islands Boxing) Association.”
In an email to the Compass, CIBA president Alva Suckoo noted that the pandemic, along with recent changes to the board, created “administrative challenges” that they are working through.
He said the association is being revamped and senior athletes are temporarily on the sidelines as its immediate focus is being geared towards youth boxers.
“This means less focus on competition and more on teaching skills, conditioning and development of boxing fundamentals,” Suckoo said. “We are aware that we have been criticised for not hosting tournaments… but it makes little sense to push young boxers to compete before they are ready.
“We are ensuring that when they do compete they will perform but more importantly they will not risk serious injury. We need to create a team that will develop and become the next generation of senior boxers. We will obviously still focus on the seniors, but many of them have moved on.”
Keeping ties with CIBA
While Hurlston is training in the the UK, he hasn’t fully ‘moved on’ from the association. He said he is hoping to keep his ties with CIBA intact despite the many hiccups their relationship has experienced.
“[I’ve] been feeling refreshed up here, feeling like I want to box again. I am going to train hard and try to get a few bouts up here.
“I am aiming for December’s 2023 Caribbean Championship and any other tournament CIBA is willing to send me to.”
The confident West Bayer said he believes in his training and feels that he will outbox his opposition, if given the chance by his homeland.
“I’m sure that I wouldn’t upset them if I was given the opportunity to attend any tournament at my level,” he said. “I feel I would dominate given that I’ve been training and working on my craft for so long with the help of coach Floyd (Trumpet).”
He added that without Trumpet “pushing, motivating and reminding” him of his goals, he would have put down the gloves.
Suckoo added that the association has plans for a local fight night in March, which will be centred around up-and-coming Caymanian youth boxers.
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