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FOLLOWING a night of fistic action which commenced at the Banks DIH, Thirst Park Car Park last Friday night and culminated at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis gym yesterday morning, Eon Bancroft and the Guyana Defence Force gym were named Best Boxer and Best Gym respectively. They both received the accolades at the completion of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA)-organised, Guyana Olympic Association (GOA)-sponsored National Open/Elite/Juniors/Youth Boxing Championships, which also saw Imran ‘Magic’ Khan given a stern test by GDF’s Clairmont Gibson.
Friday night’s action got under way with Shemar Bumbury of Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) forcing the referee to stop his contest at 21 seconds in the third round against Ansol Wolfe of Harpy Eagles (HE) in the 70-74lb category, with Bumbury going on to take the national title for that category, when he won a 2-1 decision over Keron Mulling yesterday morning.
Like Bumbury, Mulling, who represented HE and also fought Friday night before the rains interrupted the proceedings after 22:00hrs, defeated Shaquille Simeon of Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym (PRBG) by a 2-1 margin, and set up the final against Bumbury.
Essequibo’s Odeni Moore also defeated Elijah Insanally (HE) in their 85-89lb contest Friday night, but lost to Ordel Walcott in the final yesterday morning.
In the Elite category, Bert Brathwaite got a walkover from Stephan Gouveia, who failed to turn up for their junior welterweight clash, with Brathwaite going on to record a sensational knockout at 2:59secs of the first round in the final against Ryan Jeffers.
In the light heavyweight division of the Elite category, Omar Charles of the Guyana Defence Force found the going too tough against GDF’s Dennis Thomas and called it quits at the end of the first round, while Thomas won the title without throwing a punch, following the no-show of Markember ‘Violence’ Pierre.
Two 10-year-old Simon Purées in Moses Oxford of HE and Jaime Kellman of Young Achievers won the hearts of the small but appreciative crowd on hand, when they got the final started with a hectic bout in the 45-49lb division.
Both boxers traded punches for the better half of the first round, but it was Kellman, a student of Smith’s Primary School, who swarmed Oxford from Ketley Primary with a series of combinations, on his way to taking the contest via a 3-0 decision.
Malrick Walcott, Kevin Mulling and Theo Bumbury all recorded a 3-0 decision over Quincy Wright, Jakeel Cadogan and Orwane Harris respectively, before the experienced Jamal Eastman of PRBG showed what he is made of by forcing John Moore (FYF) to call it quits at the end of the first round.
Rose Hall Jammers’ Tyrone Lashley displayed grit, stamina and determination to overcome Tefon Greene of HE 2-1 in their 90-94lb contest, before the referee stopped the 105-109lb contest at 38 seconds in the second round in favour of Junior Henry of FYF, who was unleashing a series of unanswered combinations on his teammate Melshon Bharrat.
PRBG’s Joel Williamson continued his impressive run in the amateur ranks, when he got an RSC at 38 seconds of the second round in his contest against Travis Hubbard of HE, before Dewani Lampkin went under to Quincy Boyce by a 3-0 decision.
Following an exhibition contest between Theresha London and Dwon Thompson, Delon Charles forced Richard Subrate to retire at the end of the second round in their flyweight contest, and Khan stepped into the squared jungle to oppose a game Gibson.
After showing some respect to his opponent who was unsuccessful in gaining a spot to this year’s Olympic Games in London, Gibson took the fight to Khan in the final stanza, forcing his opponent to receive a standing eight-count from referee Romona Agard, after he himself was subjected to several standing eight-counts in the first two rounds.
However, instead of pushing Khan on the back foot, Gibson was more content to have his more seasoned opponent bring the fight to him, giving him the perfect opportunity to unleash several combinations to Khan’s body, even as a light drizzle graced the venue.
Gibson’s actions were a little too late, as Khan waltzed away with a comfortable 3-0 decision to retain the lightweight title, before Brathwaite unleashed his punishment on Jeffers to gain victory with one second to go in the first round, at which point the heavens opened and brought an end to the night’s proceedings.
When the action continued yesterday morning at the Six Head Lewis gym, Bumbury and Walcott chalked up their win, but it was Bancroft who represented the GDF and showed that he was a soldier at heart, surviving a twisted ankle during his contest against his gym mate Ron Smith, on his way to taking the welterweight title.
The absence of defending champion Laured Stewart must have made his work easier, but like Khan the night before, he faced a game Smith who matched him pound for pound with punches, giving as much as he took.
As Bancroft backed away from Smith, having landed a crisp combination to the body, he twisted his ankle and buckled a bit, forcing the referee to institute a standing eight-count.
Discomfort was evident, but he rode the waves of the pain to continue his onslaught on his gym mate, boxing his way to a 3-0 decision after an intense final round and winning the Best Boxer award in the process.
GABA president Steve Ninvalle, World Boxing Council/Caribbean Boxing Federation and national middleweight champion Edmond De Clou, his lightweight counterpart Clive Atwell, Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore and national boxing coach Francisco Hernandez Roldan all witnessed the action and assisted with the presentation of prizes at intervals.
Friday night’s action got under way with Shemar Bumbury of Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) forcing the referee to stop his contest at 21 seconds in the third round against Ansol Wolfe of Harpy Eagles (HE) in the 70-74lb category, with Bumbury going on to take the national title for that category, when he won a 2-1 decision over Keron Mulling yesterday morning.
Like Bumbury, Mulling, who represented HE and also fought Friday night before the rains interrupted the proceedings after 22:00hrs, defeated Shaquille Simeon of Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym (PRBG) by a 2-1 margin, and set up the final against Bumbury.
Essequibo’s Odeni Moore also defeated Elijah Insanally (HE) in their 85-89lb contest Friday night, but lost to Ordel Walcott in the final yesterday morning.
In the Elite category, Bert Brathwaite got a walkover from Stephan Gouveia, who failed to turn up for their junior welterweight clash, with Brathwaite going on to record a sensational knockout at 2:59secs of the first round in the final against Ryan Jeffers.
In the light heavyweight division of the Elite category, Omar Charles of the Guyana Defence Force found the going too tough against GDF’s Dennis Thomas and called it quits at the end of the first round, while Thomas won the title without throwing a punch, following the no-show of Markember ‘Violence’ Pierre.
Two 10-year-old Simon Purées in Moses Oxford of HE and Jaime Kellman of Young Achievers won the hearts of the small but appreciative crowd on hand, when they got the final started with a hectic bout in the 45-49lb division.
Both boxers traded punches for the better half of the first round, but it was Kellman, a student of Smith’s Primary School, who swarmed Oxford from Ketley Primary with a series of combinations, on his way to taking the contest via a 3-0 decision.
Malrick Walcott, Kevin Mulling and Theo Bumbury all recorded a 3-0 decision over Quincy Wright, Jakeel Cadogan and Orwane Harris respectively, before the experienced Jamal Eastman of PRBG showed what he is made of by forcing John Moore (FYF) to call it quits at the end of the first round.
Rose Hall Jammers’ Tyrone Lashley displayed grit, stamina and determination to overcome Tefon Greene of HE 2-1 in their 90-94lb contest, before the referee stopped the 105-109lb contest at 38 seconds in the second round in favour of Junior Henry of FYF, who was unleashing a series of unanswered combinations on his teammate Melshon Bharrat.
PRBG’s Joel Williamson continued his impressive run in the amateur ranks, when he got an RSC at 38 seconds of the second round in his contest against Travis Hubbard of HE, before Dewani Lampkin went under to Quincy Boyce by a 3-0 decision.
Following an exhibition contest between Theresha London and Dwon Thompson, Delon Charles forced Richard Subrate to retire at the end of the second round in their flyweight contest, and Khan stepped into the squared jungle to oppose a game Gibson.
After showing some respect to his opponent who was unsuccessful in gaining a spot to this year’s Olympic Games in London, Gibson took the fight to Khan in the final stanza, forcing his opponent to receive a standing eight-count from referee Romona Agard, after he himself was subjected to several standing eight-counts in the first two rounds.
However, instead of pushing Khan on the back foot, Gibson was more content to have his more seasoned opponent bring the fight to him, giving him the perfect opportunity to unleash several combinations to Khan’s body, even as a light drizzle graced the venue.
Gibson’s actions were a little too late, as Khan waltzed away with a comfortable 3-0 decision to retain the lightweight title, before Brathwaite unleashed his punishment on Jeffers to gain victory with one second to go in the first round, at which point the heavens opened and brought an end to the night’s proceedings.
When the action continued yesterday morning at the Six Head Lewis gym, Bumbury and Walcott chalked up their win, but it was Bancroft who represented the GDF and showed that he was a soldier at heart, surviving a twisted ankle during his contest against his gym mate Ron Smith, on his way to taking the welterweight title.
The absence of defending champion Laured Stewart must have made his work easier, but like Khan the night before, he faced a game Smith who matched him pound for pound with punches, giving as much as he took.
As Bancroft backed away from Smith, having landed a crisp combination to the body, he twisted his ankle and buckled a bit, forcing the referee to institute a standing eight-count.
Discomfort was evident, but he rode the waves of the pain to continue his onslaught on his gym mate, boxing his way to a 3-0 decision after an intense final round and winning the Best Boxer award in the process.
GABA president Steve Ninvalle, World Boxing Council/Caribbean Boxing Federation and national middleweight champion Edmond De Clou, his lightweight counterpart Clive Atwell, Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore and national boxing coach Francisco Hernandez Roldan all witnessed the action and assisted with the presentation of prizes at intervals.
