A few super fights but promoters in for a torrid year as boxing ratings present a dismal reality

Jan 23, 2013 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin  
Despite strenuous efforts by the administrators of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), to fill the various divisions, several titles remain vacant, while it is unclear whether some of the contenders have hung up their gloves, willing to defend their titles or in other cases, compete for higher rankings.
The reality is that despite the most ardent efforts of boxing officials, the resources are meager and in some cases, simply non-existent. These ratings were recently released by the governing body and should give pundits a reasonable blueprint of the quality of fights that can be expected during this year.
The bantamweight (118lbs), Junior Lightweight (130 lbs) and the Junior Welterweight (140 lbs) titles remain vacant, while several of the contenders are Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) champions. The bantamweight title, once held by Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore, who dethroned Dexter Marques, has WBC Cabofe Champion Elton Dharry sitting at the number one spot. He had also disposed of Marques in an earlier encounter and there is now raging debate of who is the better boxer between him and Moore.
In the meantime, Moore sits at number one to Clive Atwell’s featherweight title (126lbs), providing the promoters with a variety of choices. A bout between these two pugilists would certainly capture the imagination of boxing buffs and could compensate for the many lackluster bouts witnessed last year, the most glaring being the Elton Dharry/Ricardo Blackman mismatch.
The other contenders in the bantamweight division in succeeding order are Dexter Marques, Orlan Rogers, Hewley Robertson, Charlton Skeete, Selwyn Lett, Prince Slowe and Shaeed Alli.
The welterweight division, generally noted as category that produces the super fights, is headed by Iwan Azore, who recently defeated Mark Austin. Of more significance is the fact that the WBC Cabofe welterweight champion, Simeon Hardy is the number one contender with Gladwyn Dorway rated one notch below. The latter fighter has made quite a name for himself after disposing of all of his 4 opponents to date.
Hardy is no slouch and has also compiled a decent 10-0 record; seven ending inside the distance. Dorway thinks much of himself and believes that he could handle all comers. It would be interesting to see him square off with the man of ‘chin checker’ fame. But even before that, he will have to show his merit against Mark Austin, a tough contender who has been through the mill and survived to tell the tale. They will match gloves this Friday in the Guyana Fight Night affair.
Otherwise the welterweight division does not inspire much hope with such contenders as Kishawn Simon, a relatively new talent, Jermain King, David Thomas, John Henry (Trinidad), Cassius Matthews, Anson Green and Michael Demattos.
Clive Atwell won the featherweight title June 29, 2012 and then added the WBC Cabofe Junior Welterweight title to his collection on October 27, 2012. He also became the local lightweight champion after defeating Barbadian based Guyanese, Revlon Lake on December 28 2012. He is, perhaps, the best talent locally and, with careful handling, can hit the international limelight sooner rather than later. Locally, he has disposed of all comers and the only local boxer of merit that he might feel justified in fighting at this juncture of his career is WBC FECA –Box Featherweight Champion, Leon Moore.
Whether Moore, rated at number one in the featherweight and Jnr/lightweight divisions, takes up this challenge or simply reduce weight to face Dharry in the lower bantamweight division, is a matter for the promoters to ventilate. The latter theory seems far-fetched when one remembers that Moore had vacated the bantamweight title after citing difficulties in maintaining the limit.
Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis won the Junior Middleweight title (154 lbs) some 6 years ago and while he has not officially hung up his gloves, has inspired much speculation about his return to the ‘square jungle.’
It is imperative that GBBC officials ascertain Lewis’ intentions and if he is still in the fray, consider affixing a date for a title defense. Here again the listing does not appear glamorous with most of the contenders either retired or reluctant to seek promotion in the division.
There are several recognizable names in the division including, in proceeding order, Simeon Hardy, Howard Eastman, Iwan Azore, Gladwin Dorway, Mark Austin, Jermain King, Raul Frank, Shawn Garnett and Winston Pompey. The other contenders are Eversley Brown, Ean Blue, Patrick Boston and John Henry. If Lewis is allowed to continue hanging onto the title without an inclination to defend, the authorities must issue ultimatums.
Middleweight champion (160lbs), Edmond DeClou, won the accolade on October 29 2011 and successfully defended it on 29th June 2012. He also won the WBC Cabofe belt on February 25 2012. Once again, the ubiquitous, Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis, despite holding down the jnr/middleweight division with no indication of defending, is rated at number one in this division with Howard Eastman and Simeon Hardy occupying the number 2 and 3 slots, respectively. The other contenders in progressive order are Joel Mc Rae, Raul Frank, Troy Lewis, Winston Pompey, Eversley Brown and Kelsey George. Of the list, Frank might not be interested in reentering the fray.
Kurt Bess won the cruiserweight title in April 2011 while the number one contender in this division, Shawn Corbin, clinched the more lucrative, WBC Cabofe Championship in October 2012. Cleveland Fraser, Wayne Braithwaite and Troy Ross are the contenders in that order. Andre Purlette, rated at number 5 has since hung up his gloves while the unpredictable, Leon Gilkes, resides in the cellar.
Kwesi Jones won the light/heavyweight title in March 2011 but has since been inactive following several disappointments after aborted fights. The line of contenders is not as glamorous as he may wish and would present no kind of advancement for him.  Jones may count himself unlucky following the cancellation the Shawn Cox bout, initially scheduled for Friday night. Otherwise, his choices are limited to, in succeeding order, Cleveland Fraser, James Walcott, Winston Pompey, Joel McRae and Leon Gilkes. None of them could provide the impetus to catapult him into the world ratings.
If the ratings for the male boxers present a foreboding then the female department is more perplexing. It is doubtful whether several of these candidates are actually still active in the sport. Among those names is Alicia Marques, out of action for close to four years after the (in)famous knockout loss to Mandessa Moses, but rated at number three to the vacant welterweight title; Moses is number one while Quinda Rogers sits in the second place slot. Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil won the W.I.B.A. heavyweight title on June 5 2010 and rated below her in chronological order are Veronica Blackman, Sharon Warde, Debbie Tyson, Pauline London, Alicia Marques, Avalon Scotland and Margaret Walcott.
Several of these women have not entered the ring for quite some time now, yet have clinched a rating among the top ten. This underlines the paucity of talent and does not behoove well for the distaff department.
GBBC officials have boasted of a productive year in 2012 and promised to better it in 2013. When one examines the resources available to them, the prognosis appears dire. Only time will tell if these esteemed gentlemen could fetch water with the basket they have been given, in the process enacting commendable changes in the boxing fraternity for 2013. They need all the luck.

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