Jamaica’s amateur and professional boxers stand to receive a dynamic shot in the arm thanks to the initiative of American boxing promoter Chris Joy.

Joy, who heads Hi-Five Boxing Promotions, acted as manager of the United States-based contingent of boxers who fought against their Jamaican counterparts in last year’s edition of the Wray & Nephew Contender Boxing Series.

The boxing promoter was impressed with what he saw from the local boxing contingent and forthwith began to organise a number of visits to the country to explore the possibility of improving on the raw talent and to promote the sport.

Satisfied that there is enough talent, Joy has taken the bold step towards promoting Jamaican professional boxing. Be that as it may, he recognises that to do so successfully, he first needs to fix the present state of amateur boxing.

After months of planning, and aiming towards improving both levels of the sport, the amateur as well as the professional, Joy has engaged the services of the former world Heavyweight Champion Oliver McCall.

During several planned visits over the next three years he wants to help to carry out a vigorous training programme for local-based Jamaican boxers.

McCall recently met boxers and held discussions with officials of Jamaica Boxing Board.

The former boxing star made two visits to the Stanley Couch Gym and gave pointers to boxers and trainers.

The Jamaica Observer caught up with the man who surprised the great Lennox Lewis in 1994 to win the WBC Heavyweight title of the world.

“What I can promise is that I will be around for the next three years to get Jamaican boxing streamlined. I will be glad to be here to train boxers to get the foundation right. From what I can see the major attributes of speed, strength, determination and skill, among other attributes are all there. What will be necessary is to tweak what is there a bit to make it more effective and hopefully we would have some Olympic gold medals in the near future,” McCall said.