Ringside Promotions, past boxers mull strategies to reinstate sport

Apr 18, 2010 Sports

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Boxing is in dire straits and for sometime now there has been much talk about the implementation of innovative strategies to harness the flagging fortunes of local pugilists. Despite the best thought out strategies by the hardcore affiliates, the sport continues to wallow in mediocrity and the general consensus suggests that activities will suddenly grind to a halt.
It was with this startling reality in mind that local boxing promoter and head of Ringside Promotions, Herman Harris, decided to initiate action to salvage the sport from extinction. This approach, dubbed ‘Return of the Legends’ will continue for several weeks with an aim of finding laudable solutions towards the sport’s revival.
The promoter convened a meeting at the National Gymnasium last Friday evening with several of the country’s former boxing stars to brainstorm strategies and redefine a course for the reinstatement of the sport as a formidable force among the other disciplines.
The meeting got underway at about 17:30hrs with a sparse attendance that included 1980 Olympic Games bronze medalist, Michael Parris, former junior/welterweight top contender, Lyndon ‘Buckman’ Mortley, junior/welterweight contender, Marcelle Daniels, former middleweight world rater, Wayne Harris, former Continental of Americas welterweight champion, Michael Benjamin, Ronald Lewis and Richard Braithwaite.
Mr. Harris lamented the poor turnout and suggested that this type of attitude seems to be endemic in the boxing fraternity and may be one of the reasons for the sorry state of affairs. He then laid out the blunt reality, “Boxing is at an all time low and unless we are prepared to accept this reality and initiate strategies to salvage the situation we can say goodbye to years of hard work and sacrifice.”
The head of Ringside Promotions identified a plethora of reasons and posited that the chief reasons may be the absence of reputable gyms as of yesteryear. He mentioned such gyms as Dowden’s International, Save the Children, Cliff Anderson and Big Time among others. These institutions are now defunct and the Ringside Promotions boss feels that an institutional chunk of history has dissipated with the extinction of these gyms.
The boxers subsequently held discourse of the glory days when the droves of police officers cordoned off the perimeters of the venue to safeguard the promoters’ investment as well as to maintain law and order. The law enforcement officers were also required to have a heavy presence at the entrances as many times the arena would be filled to capacity yet hundreds of patrons bombarded the gates seeking entry. The Wayne Harris/Lennox Blackmoore bout, the Anthony Andrews/Anthony Barrow encounter and a host of other fights came to mind as the boxers fondly reminisced on the glory days of the sport.
Even the amateur boxing fraternity would have enjoyed more than its fair share of glory. Darius Forde, Winston Richards, Cleveland George are just some of the names that comprised the discussions as the concerned group attempted to find a solution to the present crises.
Mr. Harris posits the need for a compact organizational structure to aggressively deal with the problem. He presented a model that he opined may provide some relief provided he receives the requisite support. Heading the organizational chart is the president who will oversee the smooth running of the process. Mr. Harris presented his projections in a bifurcated structure that includes the organizational committee, facilities and equipment, liaison techniques, technical aspects, sports and information as well as the involvement of pugilists in social programmes on one hand, and accommodation, transportation, publicity and appreciation functions that relays gratitude to the corporate community, on the other.
Mr. Harris has traveled extensively and would have had a first hand look at the application of certain initiatives towards the improvement and sustenance of the sport. He said that he had observed strategies implemented by boxing bigwigs, the likes of Larry Merchant, Emmanuel Steward and Don King among others. He is assured that with careful planning and perseverance those initiatives could be employed in the local boxing arena.
The boxers present were all enthused by the initiative but the consensus suggested that such grandiose projections could only be implemented with hard cash. Mr. Harris agreed and further disclosed that he has spoken with several businessmen who have promised their support provided the ramifications are in place. He disclosed that he plans to acquire the startup funding for his project from a boxing card sometime in June. Initially, Wayne Harris was pitted against Howard Eastman but the latter fighter has since been detained by the police on allegations of drug possession, stalling plans for the moment. With no idea of how the situation would flesh out, Mr. Harris has already commenced negotiations with a foreign replacement but he was reluctant to disclose names since negotiations are in its embryonic stages.
In the meantime, Mr. Harris is certain that the fighters of yesteryear, the likes of Michael Parris, Marcelle Daniels and his son among others, could reinstate the sport to the days of yore. Mr. Harris has borrowed a model from his counterparts in the USA and believes its implementation could facilitate regurgitation of the attitudes of yesteryear that has solidified the sport. He refers to this group as ‘The Legends’ because he believes that they still have a role to play in the effective resuscitation of the sport to its number one status.
When the issue was put to the vote, most of the boxers present pledged their support. “I’m excited about it,” proclaimed Daniels. The other boxers nodded in affirmation. Mr. Harris reiterated that his main thrust is boxing’s reinstatement to the helm of local sports and a return of the crowds of yesteryear. The group has committed to another session at the same venue this Friday at 17:00hrs.

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