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Shawn Cox disposes of Kurt Bess in brutal fashion to retain CABOFE crown
By Michael Benjamin
The pre-fight prediction by the boxing pundits that either Kurt Bess or his Bajan counterpart, Shawn Cox would have tasted canvass proved true and the muscular Bajan needed just twelve punches, most of them powerful enough to fell an ox, and delivered within 2:10secs of the first frame, to dispose of the local double champion, in the process regaining his prestigious accolade.
Shawn Cox
The force of the punches sent Bess sprawling on the canvass three times before referee, Eon Jardine mercifully called a halt to the one sided contest.
The beating was so severe that the Guyanese double champion was taken to the Davis Memorial Hospital on the advice of Dr Laxa after he and Nurse Patricia Green had conducted preliminary examinations.
Cox’s countryman Miguel Antoine, turned back the challenge of Mark Austin to register a lopsided majority decision in their 8 rounds welterweight contest, while bantamweight Orland Rogers taught Ryan Alli a lesson in the sport, pounding out a unanimous verdict in their 4 rounds affair.
The night’s opener, a bantamweight 4 rounder between Hewley Robinson and debutant Prince Slowe was a disappointment and the referee eventually disqualified both principals for failing to engage in meaningful combat.
Both Bess and Cox sported muscled, well defined physiques and the prognosis suggested a knockout for either pugilist. At the pre-fight press conference, Cox had targeted round five to get the job done while Bess played his cards close to his chest, refusing to identify a round for the demolition.
The Bajan meant business and no sooner had the bell sounded that he rushed out and landed several salvoes to Bess’ defenceless head and the lanky Guyanese buckled at the knees. He refused to take the canvass forcing Cox to dish out a few more bombs which eventually did the trick.
Referee, Eon Jardine instituted the mandatory count and though Bess appeared shaky on the legs, instructed the fighters to resume. Cox waded into his man and five punches later decked him for the second time. Bess’ eyes were glazed but he somehow managed to assume an upright position. By now, some of the spectators were chiding the referee for allowing the bout to continue and even Cox, while standing in the neutral corner, was gesticulating and pleading with the referee to wave the contest off.
Instead the third man signaled Bess to re-enter the fray, much to his detriment. Cox waded into his man and landed several bombs, one causing a gob of blood to escape the Guyanese champion’s nose. It was then that the referee decided that he had seen enough and rightfully waved the proceedings off. Bess was attended by Dr Laxa and Nurse Patricia Green who, after a cursory examination, suggested the Guyanese champion visit the medical institution. Along with the nose injury he was diagnosed with fatigue.
Antoine was his usual attacking self and opened his account with several crunching shots to Austin’s body and head. The Guyanese pugilist seem content to counter punch but most of his blows were either short of the mark or landed on Antoine’s arms.
Austin did enjoy some bright moments and at one time managed to back the Barbadian to the ropes where he attempted to unleash his bombs. Antoine refused to let him have his way and either tied him up or danced out of range. As the rounds wound down, it was apparent that Austin lacked the requisite tools to thwart the Bajan’s efforts and the judges’ scores were reflective of the one sided battle. Judge Bernard Dos Santos scored 77-75 for the Barbadian while Rawle Aaron saw it 79-72. Andrew Thorne gave the Bajan every round evident by the 80-72 verdict.
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