—Eastman destroy T&T’s Placid
SHONDELL `Mystery Lady’ Alfred and Leon `Hurry Up’ Moore became Guyana’s latest world boxing champions, while former world title contender Howard Eastman, also of Guyana improved his rankings on the world stage.

Fighting for the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) bantamweight title, Alfred recorded a unanimous points decision over Canada’s Corinne deGroot in a 10-round contest while Moore out-foxed Colombia’s Maurico Pastrana over 12 rounds to claim the World Boxing Council Continental of America, NABA and FEDE Latino bantamweight titles by a unanimous decision also.

Guyana’s newly crowned WIBA bantamweight champion Shaundell Alfred strikes a pose with her spoils after defeating Corinne De Groot in their matchup.

Eastman on the other hand knocked out Trinidad and Tobago’s Kevin `The Fighting Policeman’ Placid in the final round of their 10-round middleweight contest to improve his record.

Also in winners’ row on Saturday night were Shawn Pile who registered a first round (two minutes 30 seconds) knock out victory over Paul Lewis in a six-round featherweight contest, Iwan Azore who scored a unanimous victory over his countryman Wayne in a six-round middleweight bout and Dexter Marques who registered a unanimous decision over his compatriot Hewley Robertson in a four-round super bantamweight fight.

In the main bout of the S&S/Holland Entertainment Promotions card, Alfred, the national bantamweight champion who weighed in at 114 pounds was a bit cautious during the early rounds of her 10-round contest against the taller deGroot (117 pounds).

However, by round four, the `Mystery Lady’ was able to get the Canadian Guyanese to fight her (Alfred) style, that is one of brawling and took advantage of it by out-dueling her opponent to secure a unanimous decision to win the WIBA title.

Judges Ian Alves, Lionel Sullivan and Trevor Arno scored the bout 99-90, 97-94 and 96-92 respectively, all in favour of Alfred.

In the main supporting bout, Moore out-foxed his Colombian counterpart Pastrana by keeping him at bay for most of their 12-round contest to win a clear cut unanimous points decision

Guyana’s Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore delivers with a solid and unanswered left hook to the jaw of Colombia’s Mauricio Pastrana during their bout which the former won.

Judges Bernard DeSantos, Francis Abraham and Clairmont DeSouza scored the bout 119-109, 120-109 and 119-109 respectively, in favour of Moore, the World Boxing Council’s number six rated fighter.

In the Eastman versus Placid affair, the former world rater Eastman practically toyed with his Trinidadian counterpart Placid before closing him (Placid) off at two minutes 19 seconds of the final round.

In the main bout, both Alfred and deGroot felt out each other with the latter using her reach advantage to keep the stalking Alfred at bay.

Early in the second round, Alfred connected with two combinations early in the round and the south paw deGroot responded with two straight lefts.

In round three, deGroot tried to keep Alfred at bay with her right jabs but the shorter Alfred stepped in close and unleashed one-two combinations to her opponents’ body and in one instance, a straight right to her head that floored her (deGroot), sending the crowd into a frenzy.

In round four, both fighters went at each other, and this is what Alfred was looking for as she out-brawled the Canadian, connecting to her body repeatedly with solid body shots.

The pattern was the same in rounds five six and seven.

In round eight, deGroot started to use a double right jab to good effect early in the round but Alfred got in close on a few occasions and scored with combinations to deGroot’s body.

The two were cautious in the early part of round nine but with 15 seconds remaining in the round, the Canadian of Guyanese parentage checked Alfred with a straight left to win the round.

Both fighters went at each other in the final round and it was deGroot that was the more aggressive as she connected with a straight left that sent Alfred to the canvas but referee Eion Jardine did not issue the eight count.

With three seconds remaining in the fight, deGroot once again landed a straight left that floored Alfred, but instead of issuing the eight count, Jardine called on the two to box on just as the final bell sounded.

The win for Alfred improves her record to 11 wins, as against five losses. Three of her victories came by way of knock outs.

In the main supporting bout, Moore who went into the ring with 23 wins and two losses improved his record with another win.

During the first round, the two boxers felt out each other and the round seemed even. However in round two, Pastrana went out quartering his opponent, looking for the opening, but Moore was the more aggressive and connected with a one-two combination to the Colombian’s face, cutting him under the left eye in the process.

Pastrana, a six-time world champion continued to be the aggressor for the next six rounds but Moore kept on his `Bicycle’ and fought on the retreat, successfully keeping his shorter opponent at bay with crisp right jabs and the occasional combinations.

Pastrana was even more aggressive in round nine, but Moore was equal to the task and the two exchanged combinations with Moore getting the better of the exchanges.

For the remaining rounds that followed, Moore kept moving, jabbing and connected with quite a few body shots.

In the end, the Guyanese was awarded the fight and the title belts that were presented to him by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dr. Frank Anthony and Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir.

After the bout, Moore said he was confident all along that he would have won, adding that he had a plan and worked to it and it paid off.

He admitted that the Colombian is a strong fighter stating that he gave him (Pastrana) his best shot and the Colombian took it well.

Pastrana’s coach Nelson Lopez said he is pleased with the decision and wished Moore the best in his career.

Pastrana also congratulated Moore but said he came to Guyana to fight but Moore stayed away from him and did not fight. He however said Moore has the potential to be a world champion.