UNABLE?TO GET any meaningful bouts since turning professional two years ago, one of Barbados’ most successful amateur boxers has thrown in the towel.
Junior Greenidge, 31, Barbados’ only medallist at the 2002 Commonweath Games in Manchester with a bronze in the light middleweight division, informed NATION SPORT?yesterday that he is quitting the sport.
“I tried to make a comeback but it is not working out. I am only getting one day a week to put in any serious training, so I thought about it and decided to hang up my gloves,” said the six-time Caribbean senior amateur champion.
“I have not been getting any sponsorship or help. All I’m getting from the promoters here in Barbados is lip-service but nothing is happening for me as I am not getting any fights,” he lamented.
“A professional boxer has no future here in Barbados. It’s a dead end.
“There is no structure to elevate you from an amateur to a professional,” complained Greenidge, who is a security officer at Grantley Adams International Airport.
The National Sports Personality in 2002, Greenidge turned pro in 2009 after dominating the amateur ranks.
He was Caribbean junior champion thrice after starting out as a lightweight and moving up to junior welterweight, and was voted best boxer at the same championships four times.
He also reached the medal round at the CAC?Games in El Salvador in 2002 when it was later confirmed that he fought with a broken hand.
“Everyone wanted me to turn pro and I did, signing up with Sam Layne [Layne Boxing Promotions] but the fights were not coming so I went to “Yogi Bear” [Edward Neblett],” Greenidge said.
“But it is overbearing now getting up at 4 a.m. and only doing one routine all the time.
“I was in training and running around the Garrison for a month. But I’m a boxer not a marathon runner and I wasn’t getting no technique work and no sparring,” he added.Â
Greenidge thanked his amateur coach, Gary Bowen, Bowen’s wife Joyce, James Marshall, Kathy Harper-Hall, Oliver Marshall and Vincent Carter for the part their played in his development.
“Gary brought me up from scratch and moulded me into the boxer I became. I had a good run as an amateur but as a sportsman, you have your ups and downs,” he said.
“I also want to thank my fans and the general public for supporting me over the years and believing in me.”
Greenidge, who was enrolled in the Barbados Defence Force’s Sports Programme between 1999 and 2005, said more needed to be done for local boxers.
“There is still no room for amateur boxing. The youngsters still have to train in a storeroom at the Stadium; while the promoters bring in a lot of mediocre fighters for professional bouts to make you look good at home but then when the boxers go overseas and face quality international opponents, they look very ordinary.”
Â
