President of the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control, William Tavares-Finson, believes more emphasis needs to be placed on coaching and general officiating in order to improve the sport in the island.

Tavares-Finson was addressing a meeting of the Rotary Club of Kingston at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Thursday.

He said Jamaica is not short of talent, but needs to improve in those areas to have a greater impact at amateur competitions such as the PanAm, Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

“We have talent; the problem is that… our coaching needs work. I think Jamaica is ideal to create a good professional boxer, but not ideal to create a good amateur boxer, so we systematically have difficulties at international amateur events,” he argued.

Jamaicans will get a chance to see local boxers in action when the two-day National Boxing Championships punches off this weekend at the Stanley Coach Gym and the YMCA.

Tavares-Finson added: “They (professional and amateur) are not miles apart, but there are significant differences which make it more difficult if you don’t know, and if you don’t know, then you are in trouble.

“We need critical coaching if we are going to take amateur boxing seriously. In amateur boxing, you don’t get points for blocking shots – you don’t get points for aggression – you get points for striking with the glove in a particular area.

“Jamaicans are busy trying to knock people out and those guys (their opponents) are just trying to win. I also need to get the officials sorted out. More of these persons are needed,” he stated.

Tavares-Finson said his organisation has ideas to encourage renowned former boxers to help with advancing the sport in the island.

“We could have a pool of boxers where we have a specific programme and we have a Lennox (Lewis) or a Mike (Tyson) to come in.”

This, he cautioned, could not be done until targeted plans are in place to facilitate the programme. The president, who took over in 2007, also and hinted that he plans to bring in a reputable coach from overseas to help with local coaching.

Tavares-Finson, though in praise of the assistance he has gotten from sponsors, said more needs to be done.

“I need to continue to engage the corporate sector because although they’re now seeing the benefits of the programme, they need to cough up (funds),” he said, while noting that he would appreciate the addition of at least two more gyms across the island – one to the western end in Westmoreland and one to the eastern end in Portland.