Back to the Future’ Development Boxing Tournament…Guyana stays in contention as visiting countries fight back

Nov 30, 2015 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin
Guyanese boxers lost a few fights but also registered numerous wins to stay in contention for the championship trophy when the action continued on the penultimate night of the ‘Back to the Future’ Development Boxing Tournament last Saturday evening.   Indeed, boxing buffs were treated to several action packed fights when and the contests were so keen that Guyana’s hopes of clinching the championship trophy is not as assured as was touted by the coaches during the initial stages of the competition.
Nevertheless, the Guyanese pugilists remained hopeful and several of them registered convincing victories to bolster this country’s chances. Jason Phillips opened Guyana’s account with an impressive TKO victory over Alston Ryan of Antigua and Barbuda (A&B) in 2:31 of the 3rd round. In another lightweight bout, Jean Paul Cooper (T&T) overcame Jamesay Greenaway to also keep his team in the hunt.
Guyanese, Jason Barker, also bolstered his country’s chances when he took just 2:48secs of the first round to take care of Barbadian, Arkeem Isidore in their heavyweight encounter while another Guyanese, Desmond Amsterdam, scored a unanimous verdict over Jamaican Ian Darby in light/heavyweight shindig.  Dennis Thomas also represented staunchly and retained his dominance in the middleweight division when he forced the ‘third man’ to halt his bout with Bahamian, Herbert Fernander in 2:15secs of the 2nd round.
Much was expected of French Guiana’s Leonardo Mosquea but he sustained an injury to his eye in his bout against Israel Johnson of the Bahamas on Friday night and was deemed unfit for his light/heavyweight bout against to St Lucian, Marvin Anthony, gifting him a walk over.
The welterweight division witnessed an upset when T&T Aaron Hassette dominated St Lucian, strongman, Lyndell Marcellin to take their welterweight encounter. Jamaican, Nico Yoyo then won on points over Hendrix Farlot of French Guiana, also in the welterweight division.
Middleweight, Johnathan Hanson (Jamaica) was too good for Aaron Prince (T&T) and won their bout by a split decision, while heavyweight boxer, Brendon Dennis of T&T got a walkover after his opponent from Antigua and Barbuda, Tuvia Lewis, failed to make the weight.
Nigel Paul strengthened Trinidad and Tobago’s chances when he stopped Bahamian, Amron Sands in 1:01secs of the 2nd round to take their super/heavyweight clash.
The women pugilists were also on show and most of their bouts were finals. Barbadian, Mary Fraser, won the gold medal after defeating Guyanese Akea Lamazon in the (junior) bout in the flyweight category while another Barbadian, Kellyanne Blackman, also won gold after defeating her Guyanese opponent, Riana Rogers, in their pinweight (youth) bout. Another Guyanese, Kesha Aroukium, fought Trinidadian, Stephanie Allen and the fight ended in a stalemate after 4 rounds of competitive action. In keeping with the rules, the judges were required to award the fight to one of the fighters who proved superior in a specific department; they opted for Gittens, on aggression.
Another Guyanese, Simone Cambria, compensated for that loss when she defeated Martha Rodney (T&T) to take the gold in the heavyweight division.
The last 8 bouts were all finals and were contested in the Men’s (Junior) category. In the Pinweight division, Guyanese Delroy Elcock won by TKO in the 2nd round after the referee stopped his contest against Iwesika Austin in 1:37secs of the 2nd round. Barbadian, Ikeoujah Austin also forced the referee to halt his light/flyweight bout against Anguillan, Juan Carlos Nouel in 1:18secs of round one while Guyanese jnr/bantamweight boxer, Kevin Allicock, overcame Trinidadian, Moses Dempster (T&T) to take that bout on points.
The featherweight bout between Daniel Hylton (Jamaica) and Justin Parris (T&T) ended in round one after Parris delivered several clouts to his opponent’s head and forced the referee to call a halt in the first frame. Lightweight, Junior Peirerra (French Guiana) won on points from Kareem Boyce (St Lucia) while local welterweight pugilist, Kevin Benn, won on points from Curlan Richardson (Anguilla). Light/middleweight boxer, Egmar Cozier (St Maarten) was also in winners’ row with a points win over Kenwal Hodge (Anguilla). The Guyanese ended the night in similar fashion as the start when Akiel Mounter unleashed a two fisted attack on Japheth Olton of Anguilla to win by technical knockout.
The boxers resumed punching last night and the champion country, best boxer and other accolades would have been established.

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