St Lucia Tri Nation Boxing Extravaganza...Ron Smith, Delon Charles register victories; Braithwaite loses first of trilogy

St Lucia Tri Nation Boxing Extravaganza…Ron Smith, Delon Charles register victories; Braithwaite loses first of trilogy

Mar 30, 2014 Sports

By Michael Benjamin in Castries St Lucia with the compliments of
Mings Products and Services Ltd, Vision Sounds and LIAT Airlines

A scorching display of power punching earned Guyanese boxer, Ron Smith a close 2-1 verdict in his 60kgs elite bout against St Lucian boxer, Ron Bastien when the curtains went up on the Tri Nation Boxing Extravaganza here in St Lucia at the Vigie Multi-purpose Complex, Friday evening last.
Elite 56kgs contender, Delon Charles, also kept the Golden Arrowhead fluttering high when he dug deep to defeat another St Lucian, Joshua Duberry, to cart off the honours in that division but the Guyanese suffered a setback in the 64kgs elite category when Bert Braithwaite, despite a spirited performance, surrendered a unanimous verdict to his nemesis, Lynden ‘The Russian’ Marcellin, in a bout that had all the ingredients of an Olympics encounter.

Guyanese Ron Smith (left) poses with Ron Bastian shortly after winning their 69kgs (elite) encounter.

Charles was the first Guyanese to box and he threw a range of punches that pushed his man on the back foot and into the ropes where he (Charles) reeled off stiff combinations. The bout developed into a ‘no retreat, no surrender’ affair in the second stanza as both pugilists lashed out with vicious combinations, each attempting to seize the initiative. The Guyanese boxer demonstrated admirable courage and determination when he weaved inside and backed up his man in one of the neutral corners and unleashed a flurry of punches and though the punches rocked Duberry, the referee inexplicably refused to institute a mandatory 8 count. This was the case on several occasions when Charles unleashed vicious combinations to his opponent’s head yet the referee refused to at least issue a count.
If there was anything that could be said of Duberry, he demonstrated immense courage and though he was on the receiving end for most of the preceding rounds, he entered the third with renewed vigour and forced Charles to work overtime to stay in front. But the Guyanese was up to the task and unleashed several combinations that rocked his man and kept him at bay. It was also around that time that the effects of the gruelling encounter started to take effect on Charles and he was punished with several looping blows as Duberry launched a late assault.
However, Charles refused to say die and though his punches were less penetrative, he nonetheless battled right down to the sound of the bell to cart off a close split decision verdict.
Braithwaite started his bout aggressively against the southpaw Marcellin and landed some telling combinations before the St Lucian got into his act. The latter boxer landed some long range blows that disturbed Braithwaite’s rhythm as both pugilists enjoyed bright moments in the first round.
Braithwaite stayed in contention for about one minute into the second round before Marcellin turned up the heat and scored with some vicious blows that had the Guyanese in some trouble, Braithwaite attempted to match ‘The Russian’s’ aggression but Marcellin was more tactical and staved off the attack with several vicious combinations. The two pugilists then engaged in a delightful exchange in one of the neutral corners and though Braithwaite attempted to match his opponent’s aggression, it was clear that he was not having things his way.
With the crowd on his side and to their chants, Marcellin turned up the heat as the second round wound down, and forced Braithwaite on the retreat until the bell broke his flow.
A resurged effort by Braithwaite early in the third round rocked his man but the St Lucian responded with a vicious volley of punches that pushed Braithwaite backwards. The two gladiators then engaged in a wicked exchange of punches in one of the neutral corners and for the first time Marcellin appeared to feel the effects of the gruelling affair. Notwithstanding, he had worked hard in the preceding rounds and the general view among patrons was that he had done enough in the early stages of the bout to earn the verdict. The judges concurred.
Otherwise the St Lucians dominated their opponents from Martinique with only Gervais Capron breaking the monotony with a points verdict over St Lucian, Heslie Joseph in the 56kgs elite category.
Other decisions read: Juniors 64kgs: Ian Aubert prevailed over Jamal Mitchell in an all St Lucian affair while in the 64kgs category Luidji Michel (Martinique) failed to get past Adrian Louis (St Lucia). In the Novice, 81kgs class, Gregory Heloise (Martinique) suffered a knockout loss to policeman, Yatil Roberts (St Lucia) in 1:25secs of the 3rd round while in the 69kgs Elite category, Nyron David (St Lucia) prevailed over Yancy Megange (Martinique) in a fight where the latter fighter felt that he was ‘done in.’ The decision sparked controversy with Mengange’s trainers vociferously debunking the judges verdict and forcing the intervention of IABA referee, James Beckles to quell the dispute..
All three Guyanese boxers were expected to be in action again last night but up to press time we could not determine whether the second encounter with Braithwaite and Marcellin was on. The organizers were mulling the wisdom of the encounter after the gruelling first fight and were contemplating just one more encounter between the two tonight.
Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle arrived in St Lucia a mere hour before the card got underway and made a first-hand assessment of his charges performances.
He said that he was heartened by the performances of the boxers and feels that they are responding nicely to the developmental programmes of the GBA. Mr. Ninvalle said that though Braithwaite had lost, he had given a good account of himself but was undone by a superior boxer in Marcellin. Notwithstanding, Mr. Ninvalle said that Braithwaite still has the ability to overturn the decision should the organizers decide that it was safe for him to engage the St Lucian in the remaining fights.
The GBA President lauded the executives of the Saint Lucia Amateur Boxing Association (SLABA) for their hard work in making the tournament a reality even amidst the many challenges. Ninvalle also had kind words for supporting members of the corporate community including LIAT Airlines, the proprietor of Trustees Pawn Shop, Monty Braithwaite, and the Permanent Secretary (MCY&S), Alfred King, for their unstinted support towards the development of the sport.