Mike Parris’ U-16 Schoolboys & Juniors Boxing Card…
By Sean Devers
A good-sized gathering at the National Gymnasium saw both Guyanese pugilists beat their Trinidadian opponents when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA)’s Mike Parris Under-16 Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing tournament was held on Sunday night.
For the first time in this tournament, named in honour of Guyana’s only Olympic Medalist, Mike Parris, overseas boxers were invited to give the 12-fight card an international flavour.
The curtains came down on the tournament just after 23:00hrs, and, by then, Guyana’s Tiquan Sampson, who defeated Trinidadian Prince Charles in the night’s final bout, was adjudged the ‘Best Boxer’, while the Vergenoegen Boxing Gym, of West Demerara, and Rosehall Jammers of Berbice, tied with three points each to share the ‘Best Gym’ Trophy.
The Jackman sisters (Alisha & Abiola), just back from India where they failed to medal at the Women’s World Boxing Championships, went at each other in an exhibition bout.
In the main bouts of the night, the talented but temperamental Taffina Barker beat Trinidadian lass, Shania Nunez, while Sampson put on a clinical showing in his victory over his ‘Trini’ opponent.
The ladies went at each other with plenty of zest, and Nunez, who has improved from the last time she was here, was courageous enough to trade punches with Barker.
But although Barker was hit a few times, she still dominated the bout, switching early from ‘Boxer mode’ to ‘Fighter mode’, as she caught Nunez with some good shots to body and head as she backed her up against the ropes.
If Barker can stay focused and remain calm, she has the ability to transcend to be one of the better female boxers in the Caribbean.
Watched by a vocal gathering, which included Olympian Keevin Allicock and former Boxers Wayne Harris, Vincent Howard and Joseph Murray, the young boxers showed plenty of enthusiasm, which suggests that, if properly developed, Guyana will continue to be the headquarters of Amateur Boxing in the English-speaking Caribbean.
In the male international bout, the ‘Prince’ was out-boxed by the talented Sampson, who caught him with ‘rights’ to the body and four-shot combinations to the head.
When Charles tried to counter-attack, most of his punches were taken on his opponent’s glove. During the latter stages of the contest, the ‘Trini’ resorted to ‘hugging’ his man as the Guyanese won 3-0.
In the other bouts, Mihil Ramsaroop lost to RHJ gym-mate Roopesh Balgobin, while VBG’s Keyon Britton looked very organised, and displayed sound technique and boxing skills as his fight with Pace & Power’s Jerimiah Joyce was stopped in the second round.
Jaydon King (RHJ) beat Stephen Allicock (P&P); Ryan Rodgers (P&P) beat his stable mate Khumda Alexander; Keyon Hamilton (RHJ) threw some very fast left-right combos to the head of Oshawn Edwards (P&P), as the bout was stopped in the opening round; Chance Niles (P&P) lost to Shakquian James (FYF); Garvel Hyman (VBG) beat Joshua Bynoe (P&P), after his corner threw in the towel, and Jermain McGarell (VBG) beat Shemroy Wintz (RHJ).
