Former St Mary’s College, Dehiwela and Navy boxer Bandula Ratnapala stressed that respect and discipline were the two fundamentals in boxing be it amateur or professional.
Ratnapala along with Dubai-based Dunstan Rozairo helped Sri Lankans to fight in professional boxing events in Dubai and Colombo.
He sees the brighter side of things on his return to the island for a short visit since the first ever professional boxing event held last November.
“Without discipline there cannot be boxing or any sport for that matter. Respecting those who give you a helping hand is also important,” said Ratnapala, founder of Straight Jab Boxing Club in New Jersey, USA.
“Without Dian (Gomes) there would not be boxing in Sri Lanka. He took it (boxing) on his shoulder and to the next level,” Ratnapala said of the island’s boxing chief.
“It is the very people who Dian helped that are stabbing him in the back - Sri Lankan style. It happened to me as well,” said Ratnapala.
“I wanted to bring pro boxing to Sri Lanka. I gave them a hand to come to Dubai and introduced them to top professionals in the sport. But they joined hands with Indian promoters,” he revealed.
“This is embarrassing. We have to learn to appreciate those who give a hand. Respect to country and the team. I don’t know why it happens. I believe karma is there.
“I can see Sri Lanka boxing growing. I hope Dian makes good decisions, keeps out culprits and appoints good people who know boxing,” he added.
Ratnapala was particularly pleased to see a mix of all communities training at the newly formed Slave Island Boxing Club. “It brought back old memories when I saw kids training in the gravel without a ring in the hot sun. This is how we trained and in the good old days all communities were together without racial discrimination,” he recalled.
He wowed to lend a helping hand by way of equipment to the new club and also Back2Fit Boxing Club which produced the Best Boxer at the Intermediates tournament.
“This has given me motivation to support Sri Lanka boxing,” said Ratnapala whose club is ranked fourth among 48 in the state of New Jersey.
He also predicted that Canada-based Sri Lankan boxer Tharindu Roshan Madushanka has the potential to become a top professional.
“I will make sure he is going to be a world champion one day. This kid is hungry. He is always calling me and training very hard in Olympian Boxing gym in Canada,” said Ratnapala who has in his stables top pros like Joel Flores, ‘Pitbull’ Mathew and Erick Perez.