Guyanese boxers dominate on opening night of Four Nation Caribbean boxing tourney

Feb 16, 2014 Sports

---

By Michael Benjamin
Boxing buffs were treated to several action packed encounters that regurgitated the days of yore, when local boxers ruled the roost when the curtains went up on the Guyana Boxing Association Four Nation Caribbean boxing extravaganza at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Friday evening last.
On a night when those memories flooded back for boxing buffs, local boxers secured 6 wins from their seven fights to dominate the proceedings and stay on track to reclaiming the enviable tab of ‘Caribbean King of the Ring.’ However, the night was not without disappointments as local welterweight contender, Ron Smith, managed to break the sequence and after turning in a wet performance and dropped a points decision to Trinidadian, Akiel Outram, to break the sequence for the local lads and hand the foreigners their lone win for the night.
Local southpaw boxer, Junior Henry (52kgs), opened Guyana’s account with a convincing points victory over Akmal Stroude of Trinidad and Tobago. The latter boxer is a classy customer and commenced the bout dancing on his toes while scoring with an occasional flurry. Not to be outdone, Henry shuffled forward and matched the Trinidadian blow for blow. The Guyanese was the clear aggressor in the first stanza and easily took the honours. He solidified his position further in the second stanza when he attacked Stroude who, in his efforts to evade the blows, ducked a mite below the belt and received a warning from the referee.
He repeated the infringement later in the round and this time the referee ordered the deduction of a point from his score. Henry turned up the heat in the final round and had his man on the retreat after several onslaughts and delivered a wicked straight right that sent the Trinidadian to the canvass for the mandatory eight count.
He rose and resumed combat but a resurged Henry attacked and a one two combination had Stroude ‘kissing’ canvas for the second time. The game Trinidadian rose and continued punching but just could not overwhelm Henry. However, where he lacked in skill and aggression, Stroude made up in courage and despite the pummelling received in the final round, ended the bout on his feet to lose by unanimous decision.
Local bantamweight pugilist, Imran Khan, next faced Jamaican Patrick Sahadeo and stamped his authority very early with several flurries that had his man seeking refuge behind high guards. Sahadeo did respond with a few punches of his own but it was clear that Khan, who had benefitted from several overseas outings, including an IABA training course in Cardiff Wales, was the more experienced boxer.
The lanky Khan stepped up the pressure and pushed his opponent back with several telling salvoes but Sahadeo refused to say die, lashing out with a few offerings of his own. Khan upped the pressure in the final round pushing his opponent on the back foot with several right crosses. Sahadeo, appeared spent and hurt after one such attack and when Khan attacked his body with a well-timed combination, even the uninitiated saw the writing on the wall. It came at 1:29secs of the final round after Khan struck with a vicious right cross and Sahadeo slid to his knees where the referee counted him out.
With their adrenaline flowing, the Guyanese looked set to continue their dominance when Ron Smith opposed Trinidadian, Akeil Outram, in the 69kgs division. The latter boxer utilized the entire ring, punching and slipping while Smith plodded behind him searching for the sucker punch. Outram remained unperturbed and rocked Smith with several salvoes that pushed the Guyanese backwards. Smith attempted to raise the ante in the third stanza but by then Outram confidently met his advances with stiff right crosses leaving the Guyanese befuddled and unable to find a counteracting strategy. The seconds were ticking away and Smith still could not uncover his opponent’s Achilles heel and the Trinidadian laced him right up to the bell to break the monotony and claim the spoils for his country.
Bert Braithwaite is a seasoned contender but he was not having his own way when he faced Trinidadian Jean Paul Cooper. Both boxers started the 64kgs affair in a business-like fashion with even exchanges. Braithwaite attempted to assert his dominance but the wily Cooper stood his ground and the two were engaged in several delightful exchanges that brought the audience to life right up to the bell.
A charged up Braithwaite started the second round aggressively with several wild swings but a composed Cooper matched him blow for blow sending the small crowd into a frenzied state. Midway into the second stanza, Braithwaite found his rhythm and lashed out with a wicked right cross but the Trinidadian took the blows like a man and responded with several salvoes that had Braithwaite retreating.
Cooper was met with a vicious right cross as the final round commenced but he demonstrated a big heart when he weathered the storm and responded with right crosses. A full-fledged war erupted in the third round as Cooper attempted to regain lost points. His efforts were thwarted by an advancing Braithwaite who delivered several delightful right crosses but Cooper was not yet done; he took the punches and gamely retaliated with vicious crosses and swings. It was a close fight to call but eventually the judges decided that Braithwaite had done enough to earn the nod by a close split decision.
Much was expected from Eon Bancroft and the chubby welterweight did not disappoint. He employed a two fisted attack, supported by superb defensive tactics and mixed with spurts of aggression to prevail over St Lucian Ron Bastien. Bancroft, who would have had some international exposure, representing Guyana at the 41st Giraldo Cordova Cardin International Boxing tournament in Havana Cuba last year, unleashed several volleys to his opponents head and body and might have just been able to earn a stoppage if he had paid some attention to accuracy. However, despite this apparent lapse, the Guyanese managed to prevail by a unanimous verdict.
Dennis Thomas was also in winners’ row and he employed his vast experience to outbox and outpunch Arthur Langelier (St Lucia) to convincingly win their 75kgs encounter. However, it was not a one sided affair and Thomas was made to work hard for every point accrued. The St Lucian put up a game fight but was outdone by Thomas’ vast experienced procured from several international outings over the years.
Otherwise, Guyanese, Clairmont Gibson could count himself lucky after being gifted the decision in his 60kgs bout against Michael Alexander (T&T). The Trinidadian presented all kinds of problems for Gibson and staggered him early in the first round. Alexander looked confident and relaxed as he built up his points with crisp jabs and occasional right crosses. A wicked left hook slammed into Gibson’s temple and sent him to the ropes where the referee instituted the mandatory 8 count.
Upon resumption, Alexander continued to dominate the situation with several telling blows while Gibson plodded behind him searching for the sucker punch. The latter boxer finally managed to score a looping right to his opponent’s head but a dancing Alexander softened the blow by dancing out of range.
Apparently acting on instructions from his handlers, Gibson came out slugging in the final round forcing the Trinidadian to use evasive tactics. It resulted in him losing the first of two points for ducking below the belt. Gibson continued to advance and once again lashed out, forcing Alexander to once again duck out of range and once again he lost a point for going too low. The Trinidadian was somewhat unfortunate to suffer from a recent rule that forced the referee to disqualify any boxer that blatantly breached the same rule thrice.
Anthony Clarke (Jamaica) and Lyndin Marcelin (St Lucia) then clashed in the 64kgs division and the St Lucian prevailed on points in a dull 64kgs affair.
Earlier in the night, several pinweight boxers entertained the crowd with pleasing performances and Jamie Kellman prevailed over Malrick Walcott, while Leon Moore took care of Kevin Mulling. Shaquille Wright won from Shaquille Simon just before Jamal Eastman earned a points decision over Odeni Moore. In the 75kgs class, Glenroy Smith triumphed over Steven Chan.
The action resumed last evening with the semi finals, while the finals will be staged at the same venue tonight.
Once again former Continental of Americas boxing champion, Michael Benjamin, will join journalist, Allan LaRose, to provide blow by blow action on NCN Radio. Admission is $500.

---

---