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Guyana Boxing Association 4-nation Goodwill Boxing championships…T&T prevail as Guyanese pugilists enjoy rest night
By Michael Benjamin
Guyanese boxers enjoyed a night away from the ring and made way for their Caribbean counterparts from Jamaica, Trinidad and St Lucia when action in the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) 4 nation Goodwill Boxing championships continued at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) Saturday evening last.
Kestna Davis (2nd right) chalked up Jamaica’s lone win on Saturday night, while from left, Patrick Sahadeo and Anthony Clark lost out on their bouts. Michael Gardner (right) was scheduled for action last night.
As a matter of fact, from a total of 4 international bouts, Ron Smith was the only Guyanese to grace the ring and he turned in a much improved performance than the inaugural night, when he dropped a points decision to Trinidadian Akeil Outram, to triumph over St Lucian Ron Bastien in their 69kgs affair.
Smith enjoyed immense support from his teammates who escorted him to the ring amidst loud drumming while each carried a miniature Golden Arrowhead. Buoyed by such camaraderie, the Guyanese started the round purposefully with jabs and straight rights. Bastien withstood the onslaught and delivered a few salvoes of his own but it was Smith that earned this round after a sustained attack.
Smith upped the ante in the second stanza and connected with several wallops. Bastien took his punishment, responded with some mean punches but many failed to connect to Smith who danced out of range. The third round was also entertaining with both boxers enjoying moments in the sun but it was clear that Smith was superior in every department; the judges unanimously concurred.
The 64kgs bout between Anthony Clarke (Jam) and Jean Paul Cooper (T&T) was a gem with both pugilists going after each other from the onset. Cooper drew first blood when he unleashed a wicked right hand that landed on Clarke’s temple and the latter boxer imitated a circus gymnast with a perfect cartwheel as he slammed onto port canvas. The referee instituted the mandatory eight whereupon the Jamaica re-entered with flailing fists to finish the round very much in contention.
They say perseverance is virtuous and Clarke added a little patience to that variable that brought him favourable results as he pummelled Cooper early in the second stanza and opened a small gash over his left eye forcing an examination from the ringside physician. The medical expert took some time examining the injury and determined it was too risky to continue the bout. He then advised the referee to call a halt to the proceedings. In this instance, the judges referred to their scorecard and awarded the fight to Cooper, the boxer that was ahead at the time of the stoppage.
Trinidad and Tobago chalked up yet another victory, this time when Michael Alexander out-punched his Jamaican foe, Patrick Sahadeo, to clinch a unanimous verdict in their 60kgs bout. Alexander stamped his authority from the first bell with vicious crosses, while slipping in some body blows. His commendable hand speed and remarkable foot movement left Sahadeo befuddled and losing the round.
Sahadeo offered some mild resistance at the start of the second round but it was not effective enough to ward off the rampaging Alexander who hit him at will before dancing out of range. The third round was a replica of the first and second where the southpaw Alexander dictated the pace and selection of punches to earn a lopsided unanimous verdict.
Jamaica repaired the damage somewhat when their 60kgs representative, Kestna Davis pummelled Akeil Outram (T&T) to register a technical knockout victory. Outram was never really in the fight as he was on the receiving end of several vicious clouts from the very first gong. He did demonstrate some measure of courage by refusing to quit and lasted out the first round. He was met by several flurries that kept him blocking up. Eventually a wicked right cross connected to his jaw just before the bell sounded to end that round and that blow so sapped his courage that he refused to re-enter the fray at the start of the third round.
Otherwise, fans were treated to 6 all local affairs where Jakeen Cadogan defeated Tyrese James. Isaiah Moore repeated an earlier feat when he won from Kevon Mullin, while Delroy Allicock prevailed over Anson Wolfe. Devon Armstrong then defeated Deshon Elcock moments before Shaka Moore triumphed over Stefan Greene.
All those bouts were pinweight encounters. The final all local bout, in the 64kgs division, was between Diwani Lampkin and Septon Barton and after three rounds of competitive action, the former pugilist prevailed. Guyanese pugilists were expected to continue their dominance last night when the action concluded.
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