When it comes to the sport of professional boxing, 2015 was a roller coaster year.
We saw the sport garner it’s highest global viewership but there were long periods of inactivity along with the passing of a boxing legend.
The ‘Caribbean Knockdown’ card, which was staged in October at the Giftland Mall was televised in 28 countries including the New York tristate area and could be viewed as the high point of the year.
Last year we also witnessed a new experiment taking shape in terms of creating a Las Vegas-like boxing environment at the Giftland Mall. The mega-event at the edifice, attracted a crowd in excess of 3000 patrons including high-ranking officials in government and corporate society.
The number easily trumped the few hundred that normally converge on the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall whenever a card is staged there.
The Giftland Mall as a venue provided the opportunity for all members of the society to enjoy an evening of fashion and fistic fury that exceeded the expectations of all who attended and those who viewed it on national television.
The card, however, was just the second that was staged for the year following the ‘Caribbean Collision’ card held in February. The eight-month lull in activity was the low point for boxing and its fans who became accustomed to monthly Pro-Am cards in 2013/2014.
In 2015, we also witnessed the end of Clive Atwell’s reign as Guyana’s pound-for-pound `King’ and perhaps, the end of his career after suffering a life threatening head injury during his headline bout on the Caribbean Knockdown card against Dexter ‘The Cobra’ Gonsalves.
There was also the emergence of a fresh crop of fighters graduating from the amateur ranks headlined by Imran ‘Magic’ Khan who made a successful debut at the mall.
While 2015 birthed new blood in the professional ranks, the boxing fraternity said goodbye to one of its famous and beloved sons.
Guyana’s first world boxing champion, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis was laid to rest on May 13 following his untimely death a week prior in a vehicular accident.
Lewis, 44, succumbed after he was hit by a motor car while riding a bicycle on the Friendship, East Bank Demerara public road.
In 2015, there was also the establishment of the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Hall of Fame.
The pictorial archive of past and present influential boxers, referees and promoters was opened on December 19 on the second floor of the Andrew Lewis Gym.
Here’s to hoping 2016 being a better year in the ring.
