CASTRIES, Saint Lucia, Nov 22, CMC – Two of Saint Lucia’s top boxers, John Didier and Kyle Marcel, will take part in next month’s International Boxing Association (IBA) Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai. The lucrative tournament, which will be held from December 2 to 13 at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, offers an US$8.32 million prize pool that will see winners of their respective divisions take home $30, 000 and fifth-place finishers $10,000.
Didier and Marcel will be hoping to emulate their performances at the recently completed Open International Boxing Tournament in Guadeloupe in October, where the former copped gold, and the latter claimed silver. The Saint Lucia Boxing Association (SLBA) said their participation “marks a significant achievement for Saint Lucia, positioning the nation on one of the most prestigious stages in world boxing.”
According to the SLBA, this opportunity was made possible through the island’s longstanding loyalty to the IBA and the island’s active role in advancing boxing across the Caribbean and within the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC). The IBA, led by Russia’s Russian Kremlev, was stripped of recognition by the International Olympic Committee in 2023, citing corruption and lack of financial transparency.
Saint Lucia, however, has remained a stalwart member of the IBA, whilst countries like Barbados and Grenada have switched to the rival World Boxing, ensuring an Olympic pathway for their athletes.
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