Guyana’s Clive `The Punisher’ Atwell weathered a `severe storm’ to clinch the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) junior Welterweight title on Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.Fighting in front a small but appreciative partisan crowd, Atwell secured a 12-round split decision victory over Jamaica’s Sakima Mullings after judge Clifford Browne of Jamaica scored the bout 115-113 in favour of his countryman, judge Francis Abrahaim of Guyana scored it 118-111 in favour of Atwell and judge McKanzie of Trinidad and Tobago scored it 116-112 in favour of Atwell.
From the first round, both boxers were feeling each other out with Atwell being the aggressor early in the round using his left jabs to good effect, some of which he doubled, changing them into left hooks and Mullings quartering his opponent throwing a few punches that went wide of their mark.

Round two saw Mullings coming forward but Atwell kept at bay and continued to use his left jabs to good effect and countered Mullings’ left hooks with stiff one-two combinations getting the measure of his Jamaican counterpart in the latter part of the round.
In round three, Atwell scored on several occasions with left-right combinations to build on his lead, while Mullings was concentrating on Atwell’s right side body and jaw, but the punches had no apparent effect on the Guyanese.
Atwell was very tentative during round four as Mullings attacked viciously, looking to close off the fight early as he had to be at the Cheddie Jagan International Airport for mid-night to return home, but Atwell had him stranded as he (Atwell) absorbed the punches and upped the ante in the latter part of the round.
After four rounds, judge Browne scored the fight 38-38, judge Francis and judge Granger had it 39-37 and 40-36 respectively in favour of Atwell.
Round five was an even round to this reporter as both boxers connected to each other’s body with telling punches.
In round six, Mullings continued to take the fight to Atwell who stayed on the retreat countering well and registering four consecutive straight right crosses to Mullings’ head and Mullings then countered with some vicious body digs.
Round seven saw Atwell moving into overdrive and was all over Mullings in the early part of the round and he maintained that dominance throughout, as the Jamaican was looking to land with a haymaker.
Atwell connected with several stiff left jabs early in the round as Mullings continued to charge forward taking the fight to the Guyanese who countered well.
After eight rounds, judge Browne had the fight 76-76, judge Abrahim and judge Granger had it 79-74, 78-74 respectively.
Mullings continued to press forward in round nine but Atwell used the ring well and landed two overhead rights that had no real effect on his opponent. Two left digs to body failed to stop Mullings from coming forward.

In round ten, there was an even exchange of punches by the two boxers, but Mullings was not as aggressive as he was in the earlier rounds.
Round eleven saw Atwell taking the fight to his opponent, connecting with a series of combinations, but Mullings was equal to the task.
Sensing the morbid prangs of points loss, Mullings stormed Atwell with vicious punches, but the Guyanese weathered the storm.
Atwell decided to keep at bay for the final round and used his one-two combination to good effect as the Jamaican seemed to have got his second breath and kept coming at Atwell, throwing punches from all angles, but Atwell was equal to the task and connected with combinations, and in the end, Atwell was declared the winner.
After the fight, Mullings admitted that Atwell was the better of the two on Saturday night but he would like a return and Atwell responded that he has no problem with the return once he gets early notification.