GBA’s MASH Boxing Extravaganza It was GDF against the Rest and the Rest proved the Best

Feb 18, 2020 Sports

By Sean Devers

The Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) held it first outdoors Boxing Card on the tarmac of the National Gymnasium on Sunday in cool breeze under a clear night’s sky.

Mark Crawford (new)

The Mashramani Boxing Extravaganza included 11 bouts and was dubbed GDF against the Rest and when the dust had settled, the 19 times National defending club champions had lost every one of their four bouts; and the small but vocal crowd loved it.
The entrance fee and the proceeds from the small bar helped to fund Guyana’s four Olympic hopefuls (Keevin Allicock, Desmond Amsterdam, Colin Lewis and Dennis Thomas) who are in Cuba embarking on a three-month training stint in preparation for the Olympic Qualifiers in Argentina from March 26 to April 3.
Even without Guyana’s top guns who are working to qualify for the 2020 Olympics slated for Tokyo, Japan from July 24 to August 9, the quality of the Card, which included one female bout between the Jackman siblings, was still good.
Alesha used this exhibition bout with Abiola to tune up for her bout in Barbados on Friday against Canadian Chola Jenkins. This will be Alesha’s second trip overseas following her participation in the Caribbean Championships in Trinidad.
The night’s Event commenced with Malachi Jones getting a unanimous decision over his Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) Gym Mate Sean Graham before Richard Howard earned a split decision against Ryan Benjamin in an all FYF match-up, while FYF’s south paw Jaqwan Milo won via a second round TKO against Sophia Warriors Boxing Gym’s (SWBG) Sherlund Stephen.
In the contest between the talented Mark Crawford and SWBG’s Jerron McKenzie exposed Crawford superior Boxing skill, but Crawford has to a bit more careful about showboating and being cocky against better opponents.

Jason ‘AK’ Barker being rewarded by Boxing Promoter Alford McDonald.

Crawford executed nice jabs and used his reach advantage and followed them up with digs to ribcage.
Although McKenzie threw more and harder punches, Crawford demonstrated tight defence and took most of the blows on his gloves or shoulder as he danced around and at times putting his hand behind his back.
Crawford was warned for spinning around his man as he toyed with McKenzie, who caught him with a few good shots but Crawford was easily the winner.
Neil Warden was the first Soldier in action on Sunday night and he got caught with an upper cut from SWBG’s Emmanuel Pompy and held on the ropes to prevent him falling to the canvas, but as he wobbled to the corner of the ring, his eyes were glazed and the fight was stopped.

Policeman Diwani Lampkin is congratulated by Alford McDonald

FYF’s Patrick Harvey got a unanimous verdict against GDF’s Jarmin Grant, while Policeman Dewani Lampkin earned a split decision over FYF’s Orin Bancroft in a close fight.
Richard Subrattee from FYF got the better of GDF’s Quacy Abrams in one of the better fights of the night.
Both pugilists traded blows as they went at each other in a high intensity affair.
Abrams scored a wicked one-two before Subrattee retaliated to the body as they punched and counter punched with Subrattee getting the better of the exchanges to win the contest.
Seon Griffith from FYF defeated Jullius Kesney as GDF continued their losing streak.
The last fight of the night in a 91 KG battle between Jason Barker from FYF and Daren France from the Army ended when France hurt his hand in the second round and fight was stopped.
GBA President Steve Ninvalle said he was pleased with this new outdoor venue and was satisfied with the standard of the Event despite the unavailable of Allicock, Amsterdam, Lewis and Thomas.
“It’s always good to try new things and having boxing in the open air, have GDF fighting as Individuals were good things as the GBA continue to improve our boxers and find new ways to entertain to fans,” said Ninvalle.