This is the second and final instalment of the top 10 Guyanese boxers of all time as selected by International Boxing Federation (IBF) referee Eion Jardine.
Andrew `The Eagle’ Murray (6)
Born July 1, 1971
Became my No. Six boxer because of his heart and dedication.
When Murray defeated Kevin Pompey he had created history, since no other Guyanese boxer had ever defeated a number four ranked boxer in the world at home, and Murray was on his way.
One WBC FECABOX title, one WBA Latin American title and a Commonwealth title make him unique especially since he had never lost any of his titles.
Murray was the first and only Commonwealth boxer to win a Commonwealth title in London in over 80 years.
He was also the first to defend his title twice, knocking out Alain Boismenu in 11 rounds in February 1995 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and beating Michael Smyth on points in Cardiff, Wales.
In his most important fight, Murray won two of the four rounds for the World Boxing Association (WBA) world title against Ike Quartey of Ghana which ended on cuts.
He had his best performance yet knocking out Michael Covington in the USA in three rounds in November of 1999 and also defeated Larry Marks, by a unanimous decision in February of 2002 in Rhode Island, USA.
Murray’s record reads: 35 fights, 27 wins, seven losses, 18 kayoes and one draw.
Dennis Andries (7)
Born Georgetown, Guyana, November 5, 1953.
Andries was the British Light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion. He became the second boxer born in Guyana to win a world title when he defeated J. B. Williamson on points in the USA to win the WBC light heavyweight title on April 30, 1986.
His career started back in May of 1978 and ended in May 1995. He was then 41 years old.
Andries lost titles twice, only to regain them both times defeating Tony Sibson and knocking out Jeff Harding. Andries had strength and aggression. He was also a hard puncher. He is the only Guyanese boxer to win a world title three times.
Andries has won the European Boxing Union (EBU) light heavyweight title and the British Boxing Board of Control light heavyweight title on numerous occasions.
Joe Walcott (8)
Born, March 13, 1873, Demerara, British Guiana.
Walcott spent part of his youth in Barbados. As a youngster, Walcott set out to see the world. He got a job as a cabin boy on a ship which sailed to Boston, USA. He soon settled in Boston and later landed a job working in a Gym where he learnt the art of boxing.
Walcott had his first pro-bout on February 28, 1890 when he knocked out Tom Powers in two rounds. He lost his first attempt at the world title when he suffered a technical knock out (TKO) in the 12th round of the 1897 bout against Kid Lavigne.
On December 18, 1901 Walcott travelled to Ontario, Canada and knocked out James `Rube’ Ferns in five rounds, winning the world welterweight title and being the first boxer born in Guyana to achieve that feat. He defended his title three times before losing by a disqualification in 20 rounds to Aaron Lester Brown known as the Dixie Kid on April 29 1904. Though a welterweight Walcott was not afraid to tumble with the bigger guys and when fights were scarce would even take on the heavies.
Three of his more famous heavyweight opponents included Joe Choynski, who suffered a technical knockout in the seventh round; Big Mike Donovan, who suffered a similar fate in round five and the great Sam Langford with whom he fought to a draw.
Walcott retired in 1912.
His record reads 100 wins, 32 losses, 58 kayoes, 23 draws and nine no-contests.
He was killed after being struck by a car in October of 1935 in Ohio and was elected into the Boxing hall of Fame in 1955.
Andrew `Sixhead’ Lewis (9)
Andrew `Sixhead’ Lewis was born on December 14, 1970.
He is the first Guyanese boxer fighting under the Golden Arrowhead to win a world title, a distinction which led to motorcade and lots of celebration on his return with the title belt.
Before that, Lewis had won only one title in his first 15 fights (14 kayoes) which was the welterweight title of Guyana after he knocked out former world-rater Terrence Alli in two rounds.
He added another title to his collection when he won the WBA North American welterweight title defeating Teddy Reid over 10 rounds.
After knocking out his next four opponents, Lewis lined himself up for a world title fight against the hard-hitting James Page of the USA. Page had been stripped of the title but was challenging Lewis for the vacant title. Lewis knocked out Page in the seventh round winning the vacant WBA welterweight world title.
He successfully defended and retained his titles when he defeated Larry Marks over 12 rounds and held the title from February 17, 2001 – March 30, 2002.
He also won the junior middleweight title of Guyana with a points win over `Deadly’ Denny Dalton.
His fight record reads: 29 fights, 23 wins, three losses, 20 kayoes, two draws one no-contest.
Motie Kid Singh (10)
The world named him the `Fighting Rajah’. Singh was a skilful boxer. He fought all over the world from Cape Town, South Africa to Port-of- Spain, Trinidad.
In 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, he was matched with Phil Tobias of Canada. Tobias had just fought Midget Woolgast to a draw and the winner would have met with Woolgast in an elimination bout for the flyweight title of the world. In a hard-fought battle the “fighting Rajah’ defeated Tobias over 10 rounds setting up the showdown with Woolgast.
They met on September 13, 1929 in New York. The `Fighting Rajah’ lost a close decision to Woolgast, who went on to win the world title.
Moti Kid Singh became the first Guyanese boxer to fight in South Africa knocking out Mannie Dixon in the 10th round and winning the Indian featherweight title of the world which he held for three years whilst making four successful title defences.
His career reads: 59 fights, 33 wins, 21 losses, 18 kayoes, and 5 draws.
