Boxing fraternity floored by death’s wicked combination

May 08, 2015 Sports

GBBC expresses deepest sympathy
Over the past few days the nation has been in deep mourning following the death of Guyana’s first world

Andrew Lewis

champion, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, who succumbed to his injuries moments after his bicycle collided with a motorcar last Monday on the East Bank thoroughfare.
The news has been so shocking and is still the talking point of the pundits that the nation has hardly noticed that another boxing stalwart, former referee, Cecil Henry, has passed on to the great beyond. He was 89 years old and passed away peacefully at his Macaw Drive home on April 26 after a period of illness.
Considered one of Guyana’s better boxing referees, Henry’s career was cut short by an unfortunate mishap in the ring more than three decades ago. Boxing pundits of the mid-eighties will remember the Lennox Blackmore/Wayne Harris shindig for the local Super/Welterweight title.
Naturally, they will also remember Henry, at that time considered the best referee locally. He was the man given the responsibility to officiate in the Harris/Blackmore slugfest. Blackmore, a former world rater, had seen his best days in the square jungle but there was heated debate of whether he would have been able to mesh with Harris who was enjoying his most productive years in the sport around that time.
After much wrangling and heated debates, the fight became a reality on June 15, 1986.

Cecil Henry

Anticipation was high following much hype and cross talk and the fans flocked the venue on fight night in anticipation of the treat in store. What followed afterwards had left a bittersweet taste in the mouths of fans and forced several administrative changes in the local boxing arena.
Blackmore, the veteran, was not prepared to succumb to what he regarded as a tenderfoot in Harris and he decided to pull out all the stops. The huge crowd watched in awe as Blackmore unleashed a terrific two fisted assault on the younger, less experienced Harris that had him on wobbly legs for most of the bout.
Blackmore then resorted to the use of unconventional tactics and Harris was the recipient of a barrage of rabbit punches, some around his kidney area while a few landed behind his head. All this time Henry, considered the most experienced referee at that time, failed to upbraid Blackmore much less deduct a point.
In the meantime, an inexperienced Harris found the onslaught too much to handle and after an especially fierce attack, succumbed in the 9th round. Harris was never the same boxer after that fight, having been exposed to the ugly side of the sport. The fans were furious and they severely condemned Blackmore’s tactics.
However, most of the darts were thrown at Henry who many accused of partisan tactics. Others felt that he should have disqualified Blackmore and there were even suggestions that the veteran referee was paid off. Henry eventually wilted under pressure and retired from the ring.
Boxing was in Henry’s blood and many viewed the decision as temporary but the referee stuck to his guns and never officiated in another bout. As a matter of fact, the pain was so severe that Henry refused to even attend other boxing matches.
Note: Sometime last week I paid a visit to another veteran referee/judge, Bertrum Adams, and we spent some time reminiscing of the days of yore. During our gaff Henry’s name popped up and we went on to reflect on the circumstances that robbed the sport of a great referee.
Neither of us could shed any light on Henry’s current activities and the conversation diverted to other boxing issues. One night later, Adams called to inform me of Henry’s demise. What a coincidence! Since I was ill, I was unable to attend his funeral but I understand that boxing was represented by officials of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC).
So boxing has lost two sons; a referee in Henry and a pugilist in Lewis. The officials of the GBBC is in mourning and in a recent press release have expressed profound condolences to the families, friends and all affected by the death of these two stalwarts. “This is a double whammy and a great loss to the boxing community,” said Arno.
“On behalf of the President and executives of the GBBC I’d like to extend deepest condolences to the family and friend of both stalwarts, Lewis and Henry. Boxing s much poorer without them,” asserted Arno.
Kaieteur Sport shares this moment of grief with the boxing fraternity and all affected by these sad losses even as we express similar sentiments.