The Ancient County returns to the fistic scene with a bang

May 19, 2010 Sports

By Michael Benjamin

Just about two months ago I traveled to Berbice to witness the inaugural ProAm boxing card in that county, organized by the coach of the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym, Orlan Rogers at the Rose Hall Community Centre Ground.

At that time only the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym was functional so most of the amateurs (and the professionals for that matter) that participated in that tournament traveled from Georgetown.

Jeff Roberts

Monte Bovell

I distinctly remembered the only three boxers that hailed from the Ancient County that formed a part of the card were Marley Ross, Jamal Eastman and Joel Williamson, all of the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym.

I was standing in close proximity to the ring when a man I had never seen before approached me and introduced himself as Monty Bovell.

He then explained that he was a boxing coach and that he was in charge of a group of enthusiastic youngsters that were all anxious to learn the intricacies of the fistic sport.

My interest was piqued because I remembered that Berbicians had etched a niche on the local boxing scene.

Immediately coming to mind, was Al Thomas who I remembered seeing in action when I was a lad in Primary School. Then there was the late Ramesh Best, the original Coolie Bully who entertained boxing buffs with great performances.

One could not leave out Jeff Roberts, a 3 times national champion (1977-79), a professional bantamweight champion (defeated Samuel Brutus) and also a professional featherweight champion (defeated Fitzroy Davidson).

Add Robin ‘Albion Prince’ Lall and Berbicians claim of contributing to the rich boxing history is substantiated.

Michael April

No one could clearly remember when it happened but suddenly Berbicians ceased to be integral forces in the boxing arena. Orland Rogers attempt to change the status quo saw the birth of the Pocket Rocket Boxing gym.

As I stood on the Rose Hall Community Centre Ground listening to Mr. Bovell as he unfurled his dreams of once again reinstating Berbice into the boxing mix my blood curdled. Despite this, I still nurtured some doubt about the ability of Mr. Bovell and his team to realize their goal. It seemed a Herculean task.

There are a plethora of proverbs that inspire the human mind to reach for impossible goals.

‘Where there’s a will there’s a way.’ ‘What the mind of man can conceive and believe he can achieve,’ and many more act as the basis for attempting seemingly impossible tasks.

Several Berbicians, the likes of Jeff Roberts, Abid Ali, Desmond Kelly, Aubrey Cadogan and Monty Bovell dared not only to dream but to turn that dream into reality.

So last Sunday morning when several busloads of anxious and excited novices exited the bus that transported them from Berbice to the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing gym to participate in the first of a series of amateur boxing cards, one could not help but applaud the efforts of the Berbice crew.

Whereas before, there was only one boxing gym and a handful of boxers in Berbice, the efforts of true boxing stalwarts have now changed the situation to three gyms and dozens of boxers. Several of them were on show at the recently staged card in Albouystown.

Montezuma Bovell inspired with a decision victory over Kevin Roberts while Michael April, a 78 pounder from Sanfort Village, West Canje, Berbice also turned in a spirited performance to buoy the hopes of boxing administrators. There were quite a few others but the list is pretty extensive to detail.

The journey has only just begun but with the speed and positive approaches of boxing administrators of GABA, it would not be long before boxing once again stakes a claim for national support like the days of yore and the Berbicians comprise an integral part of that mix.