… Hubbard is Best Boxer
EVEN though he did not win the Best Boxer award, Berbice’s Richard Williamson won the hearts of boxing fans in the mining town of Linden, when he taught Terrence Adams a boxing lesson he is sure to remember, last Monday night. The two met in the bantamweight division at the inaugural Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA), in association with Briso Promotions-organised open air boxing card at the Amelia’s Ward/Wismar Bus Park, as part of the annual Linden Town Week festivities.
Harpy Eagles’ Travis Hubbard walked away with the Best Boxer Award, after he outslugged Forgotten Youth Foundation’s Diwani Lampkin to gain the nod of Cuban coach Francisco Hernandez Roldan, but it was Williamson who brought the crowd to their feet.
Having lost his place on the national Olympic Box-off team because of financial constraints, Williamson showed the authorities why he should have been there, as he rained combinations and power punches about the body and head of Adams, picking his spot with pinpoint accuracy and ease.
After two and half rounds of punishment and a perfect lesson in boxing, Adams was disqualified for infringing the rules of the sport, having being cautioned on several occasions by the referee for holding onto his opponent who trains persistently at the Pocket Rocket Gym in Berbice.
Other winners from the night’s action were: Tyrese Mullings and Anthony Thomas (50-54 lb category), Christopher Timmerman (70-74lb), Kurt Allicock and Albert Thomas (75-79lb), Shaka Moore (80-84lb), Shawn Michael (110-115lb), Tito Ashe (130-137lb), Jose Chappell (160-167lb) and Jamal Thomas (168-175lb).
Reigning National and World Boxing Council/Caribbean Boxing Federation (WBC/CABOFE) middleweight champion Edmond ‘Wonder Boy’ De Clou, a native of Linden opposed top amateur middleweight pugilist Eon Bancroft in a three-round exhibition bout.
Following the completion of the card both president of the GABA Steve Ninvalle and Chief Executive Officer of Briso Promotions Seon Bristol showered praise on Corporate Guyana for the tremendous support given to the card.
According to both boxing enthusiasts, the response was great, from the guys who set the ring up to the numerous sponsors such as Banks DIH who supplied the lights, Digicel for the trophies and the numerous sponsors who came on board without hesitation.
Ninvalle also alluded to the Kashif and Shanghai Football Festival, saying “They started small and grew into an annual event that is looked forward to by the football public and we intend for this to be an annual event, as it allows us to further decentralise the sport and already plans are under way for next year.”
Apart from Briso Promotions, Digicel and Banks DIH, other sponsors of Monday night’s event were Elton Dharry, Allison Butters-Grant, Mark Arthur, Delta Airlines, Lion Love Promotions, Cybil’s Bakery (New York), Kenny Bristol, Lennox Blackmore, Dillon Carew and the Frank brothers Rawle and Stephen.