Latest update February 26th, 2025 2:43 PM
Tiquan Sampson shines as Guyana impresses on opening night
Winfield Braithwaite Int’l School Boys and Girls Boxing C/ship…
Kaieteur Sports – The curtains rose on the 6th edition of the Winfield Braithwaite International Schoolboys and Schoolgirls Boxing Championship, inaugurating its pugilistic festivities at the National Gymnasium located along Mandela Avenue.
The opening day of this championship delivered an electrifying array of nine schoolboys’ clashes, culminating in an enthralling finale between Tiquan Sampson and Denzel Stephen.
The host nation, Guyana, demonstrated its pugilistic prowess by seizing victory in five encounters on the championship’s opening night. Trinidad and Tobago secured three triumphs, while St. Lucia clinched a lone victory, setting the stage for the forthcoming second day.
The initial bell chimed just little past 7:00 pm on Friday which set Nicholai Hinds against Isiah Jones in the ring. Isiah’s diminutive stature belied the thunderous power he wielded, as he unleashed a series of penetrating jabs upon his towering adversary, Hinds. The initial rounds were dominated by Jones, who skillfully asserted his dominance. The ensuing round witnessed both combatants fiercely engaging, exchanging a substantial barrage of blows. The climactic third round saw Jones once again emerging victorious, securing an impressive win on the tournament’s commencement.
Tiquan Sampson
In the subsequent bout, the prodigious Roopesh Balgobin hailing from Guyana squared off against Trinidad’s own Johnathan Khan. Balgobin, a master of his craft, displayed calculated aggression, landing a powerful right hook early in the first round that sent Khan reeling. Succumbing to the onslaught, Khan yielded the contest merely one minute and 25 seconds into the second round, thus affording Balgobin a comfortable triumph in his maiden international endeavor.
Guyanese Roopesh Balgobin punishes TT’s Johnathan Khan on opening night
The Guyanese boxer, Dontavian Denny, found himself outmatched by Trinidad and Tobago’s Malcieve Bellille in the 57kg schoolboys’ bout. Bellille emerged victorious via the judges’ scorecards. Meanwhile, the formidable Shakquain James of Guyana showcased remarkable skills on the opening night, triumphing over Barbados’ Nathan Walcott in the inaugural Youth Welterweight (67kg) bout. Trinidad and Tobago initiated their 2023 championship campaign with a resounding victory, as Anferney Baptise bested Guyana’s Clipton Jackson.
The climactic moment approached with the first finals of the evening, pitting Curtis McDonald (Guyana) against Jaheim Alexander (Trinidad) in the Schoolboys’ 32kg encounter. McDonald’s astute boxing tactics propelled him to outmaneuver Alexander, ultimately claiming victory by way of the judges’ unanimous decision.
Kaide Wetthers of Guyana in battle with Joshua Lewis (backing)
The seventh battle of the night bore witness to St. Lucia’s hard-hitting John Dedier, whose formidable fists sent Jonathan Clyne of Grenada to the canvas. The referee intervened, halting the contest at one minute and 11 seconds into the second round. Later, Guyana’s fortunes took a downturn as Kaide Wetthers succumbed to the skillful footwork of Trinidad’s Joshua Lewis, whose impeccable movement proved insurmountable for the burly Wetthers.
The night’s concluding showdown unveiled a boxing prodigy in the form of Tiquan Sampson (Guyana), who swiftly vanquished Denzel Stephen of St. Lucia in a mere one minute and 22 seconds of the first round. Stephen proved no match for the flamboyant Sampson, suffering defeat by way of Referee Stopped Contest (RSC).
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