THE penultimate fight of Michael Anthony Parris’ 13-year professional career occurred on June 30, 1995. Parris clashed with Englishman Richie Wenton at the Everton Park Sports Centre in Liverpool. At stake was the vacant World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Inter-Continental super bantamweight title which Wenton won following a unanimous decision verdict. All three judges scored the fight 119-111 in favour of the Englishman who at 27 was 10 years Parris’ junior.
The Guyanese made his final trip to the ring in November of the same year. He then defeated Paul Lloyd via TKO in round four. Lloyd later became the bantamweight champion of the Commonwealth.
Parris had entered the professional ranks two years after winning Guyana’s first and to date the only Olympic medal, at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. He produced 17 victories, 10 losses and two draws.