MICHAEL Parris was down in the tenth round but was still able to pound a points victory over Lalta `Coolie Bully’ Narine on September 23, 1990. The bantamweight fight had the national title at stake and Parris was adjudged the winner by unanimous decision.
Narine, who at 22 was 10 years Parris’ junior, weighed in at the 118-pound bantamweight limit.
The victory pushed Parris’ record to 14 wins against three defeats. A bronze medallist at the 1980 Olympic in Moscow, Parris moved up to the professional ranks two years later.
The diminutive but skilful orthodox boxer retired from boxing without adding a Commonwealth title to his list of achievements. Parris saw his second attempt at a Commonwealth crown go up in smoke when Neil Swain won by TKO in the second round.
The clash for the vacant super bantamweight title was held on April 1995 in Wales, United Kingdom, and Parris was a polished 37-year-old at the time. He first made an attempt at the Commonwealth belt in March 1989 but was unsuccessful against Bahamian Ray Minus.
In a 13-year career the local hero fluctuated between the bantamweight and featherweight divisions.
He was crowned national bantamweight champion in November 1983 and had epic battles with Ronald McBean, Darius Ford, Wayne Smith, Vincent Howard and Anthony `The Pearl’ Andrews, all of whom be fought twice. Glenn Forde is the only opponent he faced three times.
Parris exited the sport in 1995 and his record includes 17 victories, 10 defeats and two draws. In honour of his achievements the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association has recently named its Under-16 competition after him.