Republican Boxing Gym dominate their GDF counterparts as Intermediate tournament commences

Sep 01, 2014 Sports

By Michael Benjamin
Boxing buffs of the late seventies and early eighties, who would have lived through that era when boxers of the Republican Boxing Gym dominated the local scene, would have experienced a sense of nostalgia last Saturday evening when several pugilists from that institution dominated their counterparts from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) when action on the inaugural night of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Intermediate Boxing Championships concluded at California Square, East Ruimveldt.

Republican pugilist, Anandram Dharamraj rocks Ryan Junior with a straight right to take their 64kgs shindig.

The card consisted of 15 bouts, out of which, nine consisted of fights between pugilists from the GDF and the Republicans. Those latter groups of boxers were indeed in a destructive mood and carted off all but one fight, the 60kgs encounter between Stephen Julian (REP) and Rupert Gillis (GDF).
In the 91kgs division, Republican representative, Delon Gordon, turned in a brilliant display that had his GDF opponent, Sean Phillips on the back foot and was eventually adjudged the 2-1 winner.
Anandram Dharamraj threw vicious combinations but failed to stop Ryan Junior (GDF) in their 64kgs encounter though he forced the referee to institute a mandatory 8 count on his opponent. After unleashing several wicked combinations, the Republican representative earned a lopsided majority decision.
Delon Naitram (REP) was also in a devastating mood in his 56kgs shindig when he unleashed a two fisted attack on Jamal Mona that forced him to cover up in one of the neutral corners before the referee interceded with a mandatory 8 count.
The blows proved to be too much for the soldier who shook his head when the referee enquired if he was willing to continue. The time of the stoppage was 2:13secs of the second round. Another Republican, Stephen Andrews fought Quacy Semple (GDF) in the 56kgs division and literally bulldozed him into submission and after a vicious attack the soldier ran out of ammunition and wisely raised the white flag at 1:32secs of the first stanza.
Kevin Allicock (REP) then took care of soldier, Arthur Scipio in a fight that was fiery and decisive. The Republican rushed out at the sound of the first bell and before the first minute had expired, subjected his man to 2 mandatory 8 counts.
Stephen Julian (REP) seemed set to continue the winning pattern for his gym and started his 60kgs bout against GDF pugilist, Rupert Gillis at a furious pace. His aggression resulted in Gillis receiving back to back mandatory 8 counts.
Gillis bided his time and eventually retaliated with a wicked three punch combination that sent Julian to the canvass at 1:46secs of the first stanza, where he refused to re-enter the fray. The 64kgs affair between Klaus Daniels (REP) and Enock John (GDF) was a thrilling encounter where no quarters were asked and none given. The two gladiators traded punches for most of the bout but in the end it was Daniels who scored the cleaner blows and influenced a close decision of the judges.
Earlier in the night, Jason Phillips, a new entrant to the boxing scene and representing the Young Achievers (YA) Boxing Gym, turned in a classic performance to win over Jamal Glasgow (GDF) in the 69kgs division. Phillips attacked his opponent’s body and had him cringing from the assault.
He earned a majority decision and returned later in the night to earn a TKO victory over Devon Thomas of the Rosehall Jammers (RHJBG). This was also Thomas’ second bout of the night as he had earlier defeated GDF representative, Jamal Evans on points.
In other results, Clifton Graham (REP) earned a majority points decision over Terence Nero (GDF) in the 69kgs division; Glenroy Smith (EBG) won on points from Mervin Rawlins (GDF) in the 75kgs division; Colin Martin (REP) earned the nod over Warren George (GDF) in the 81kgs category.
The final bout of the night, a 75kgs duel between Wayne Murray (GDF) and his gym mate, Kevon Farley, in his second fight of the night, saw the former pugilist prevailing on points. The tournament concluded last evening with several other entertaining bouts.