Time is slipping away for Trinidad and Tobago’s top amateur boxers. With the national boxing programme stalled due to the absence of a functioning Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC), the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association (TTBA) is again urgently appealing to the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to appoint a new board. The current standstill, brought on by the board’s dissolution after the May 4, general election, has left the sport in limbo, threatening the momentum, progress, and future of T&T’s Olympic hopefuls as the 2028 Games cycle begins to intensify. The uncertainty also casts a shadow over T&T’s participation in key international tournaments this year, including the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Tournament in St Lucia and the Caribbean Schoolboys and Youth Championships in Guyana. Without local competitive preparation, the TTBA says it cannot responsibly send athletes abroad. These regional meets are essential stepping stones to the Pan American Games and, ultimately, the Olympics. Skipping them could delay or derail entire athletic careers. “This isn’t just about the ring,” Forde said. “It’s about giving young athletes the chance to dream, to compete, and to represent their country. If we don’t act now, those dreams might disappear.” According to the TTBA, the lack of sanctioned events is depriving athletes of critical opportunities to compete, qualify and build form. One major event has already been lost due to the impasse, and two more are at risk. Officials say time is not just short, it’s running out. The TTBA’s Olympic development plan has been disrupted at a pivotal moment, halting not just local competition but also the pipeline of talent that feeds into international tournaments. Boxers are currently training in isolation, unable to gain the exposure, feedback, and rankings needed to compete globally. Among those most affected are the country’s brightest medal prospects. These athletes, many of whom have medalled at the regional level or represented the country internationally, now find themselves unable to compete, qualify, or progress. The TTBA insists these fighters are more than just contenders; they are national assets being denied their right to chase Olympic dreams due to bureaucratic delays. The crisis has already claimed the May 17 Tobago Elite Boxing Gym card, which had to be cancelled after the TTBA received no response to its permit request. The upcoming June 28, Golden Fist Gym card, in Petit Valley, is also in jeopardy. These events according to the TTBA are more than exhibition matches, they are essential for athletes to meet international readiness standards, engage in qualifying bouts, and undergo technical evaluations. Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Phillip Watts has acknowledged the urgency and confirmed that appointments to the TTBBC require Cabinet approval, which can only move forward once Parliament reconvened on May 23. TTBA president Cecil Forde has expressed appreciation for the Minister’s engagement with national sports bodies but emphasised that boxing operates on a time-sensitive calendar. Once a competition window closes, he warned, it doesn’t reopen. For now, the TTBA remains in standby mode, continuing athlete training and planning events on a provisional basis. But without administrative resolution, the national boxing programme risks stagnation at a time when international opponents are building momentum.