Action packed matches characterize second edition of Pro/Am boxing card

Mar 28, 2010 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin
Improved crowd support, four bouts; three knockouts, and unbridled fury that kept the crowd bawling in delight were all characteristics of the second edition of the Pro/Am boxing card staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Friday evening last.
Shawn Pile set the stage from the onset when he closed up shop in the second round in his junior/lightweight bout against Paul Lewis jnr. Middleweights Troy Lewis and Eversley Brown broke the momentum somewhat when the former fighter eked out a split decision over the latter.
Mandessa Moses then ‘regularized’ the situation when she clinically decimated Alicia Marques midway of the third frame in their catchweight match shortly before Elton Dharry dished out a first class licking to Wilmot Hutson, closing out his lights in 2:22secs of the third round.
Hutson, apparently nurturing a strong belief that he could have finished the fight in the first stanza attacked venomously while Dharry chose to assert himself, dancing and flicking an occasional jab. About midway of the first stanza both boxers became locked in mid ring combat and when they separated blood spurted from over Hutson’s right eye. The referee did not see the need for the doctor’s intervention so Hutson was allowed to continue.
Dharry launched an early attack in the second round with a vicious straight right to Hutson’s jaw and try as he might, Hutson could not defy the laws of gravity. He tumbled to the canvass but managed to survive the mandatory eight count moments before the bell brought him welcome relief.
It turned out to be delayed execution as Dharry pounced immediately upon the sound of the bell to signal the start of the thirds stanza. A vicious three punch combination to Hutson’s head went unanswered shortly before Dharry’s precision right cross slammed into his jaw and once more he tumbled to the canvass this time for good. The time was 2:22 seconds of the third round.

Earlier in the night, in the main preliminary bout, Mandessa Moses, fresh from a points decision win over Quinda Rogers in the inaugural Pro/Am card in Berbice, needed just 1:31secs of the third round to convince Ali Marques that she was definitely in the wrong place.
Marques, the taller of the two failed to utilize her height advantage, allowing Moses to breach her defence on numerous occasions. About one minute into the bout Moses landed a straight right to Marques’ jaw. The left hook that followed sailed into thin air as Marques was already on her way to the canvass. To her credit she rose before the mandatory count had expired but could not avoid the ensuing onslaught shortly before the bell chimed the end of the round.
Marques offered some retaliation in the second round but failed to thwart the efforts of Moses who seemed too focused to be deterred.
The flickering flames of the preceding rounds developed into a full blown inferno in the third. Moses lashed out and when her fist connected to Marques’ face, the force sent her to the canvass, blood spurting from a deep gash over her eyes. The referee started to count but the glazed look on Marques’ face forced him to promptly wave the one sided contest off. The time was 1:31secs of the third stanza.
The junior/lightweight clash between Pile and Lewis evaporated into a one sided affair after Lewis started the bout aggressively. The shorter Lewis sacrificed accuracy for power and most of his punches either sailed over Pile’s head or landed on his guards.
The first half of the second stanza was basically a replica of the first with Lewis swinging lefts and rights in the hope of landing a haymaker.
Pile blocked most of the punches while biding his time. His patience paid dividends when he connected with a left cross to Lewis’ head. Lewis tumbled to the canvas and stayed there even after the referee had completed the count. He then rose and offered mild protest over the stoppage.
In the first edition of the Pro/Am card, Troy Lewis was devastating, stopping Rudy Fraser in 1:20secs of the first round. He probably nurtured hopes of emulating that feat against Brown but the lanky Brown was at the top of his game. After a short ‘sizing up’ period, both boxers waded into each other. Lewis unleashed a wicked combination that forced a three punch response from Brown. Lewis, the shorter fighter then managed to lure Brown into a brawl and enjoyed the advantage, working on the inside.
The pattern continued into the second round before Brown put on his thinking cap and employed a jab and move strategy. He launched a spirited attack that had the shorter Lewis seeking refuge behind high guards but not for long as Lewis lashed out with several looping rights.
Two hectic rounds of trading leathers began to take its toll on the two fighters and the third round was merely recuperating period. In between, Lewis managed to score steadily, if not powerfully until the bell and distinguished himself in that round.
The final round was a thriller. Both fighters went after each other with a fury. Lewis opened his account with a four punch combination but Eversley took it like a man and fired back a combination of his own. In a no retreat, no surrender mode, both principals stood toe to toe punching away to the bell. Lewis eventually won the judges’ favour by a split decision.
Several notable personalities attended the show which reportedly attracted a large television audience. Among those in attendance were former President of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association, Laurie Lewis, Mr. Conrad Plummer and Justice Cecil Kennard. The boxing notables were headed by 1980 Moscow Olympics bronze medalist, Michael Parris, former Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) and Women’s International Boxing Council (WIBC) light/heavyweight champion, Gwendolyn O’Neil, Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) bantamweight champion, Shondell Alfred, former middleweight world contender, Wayne Harris and Pamela London.
Meanwhile, Dharry announced that he is ready to sign the contract to tackle Orland Rogers. Before last Saturday’s fight, Rogers had called out Dharry to a fight, accusing him of employing evasive tactics.
After taking care of Hutson the ‘Coolie Bully’ said that there has been too much talking outside the ring and he is inviting the ‘Pocket Rocket’ to defend his earlier boasts. Kaieteur sport would keep tabs on developments as they occur. The next episode of the Pro/Am boxing card is slated for Friday April 30 next.

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