By Rawle Toney in Birmingham, England
With the Guyanese boxing team on quest to break their 32-year jinx of no medals at the Commonwealth Games, Desmond Amsterdam ensured that they remained on the path of replicating, or bettering Wesely Christmas’ 1990 performance.
Amsterdam, a Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), earned a split decision victory over New Zealand’s Richardson Emile yesterday to advance to the quater-finals of the Men’s Welterweight Division at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Bronze Medallist, prior to the Commonwealth Games, was adamant that he’s capable of reaching the medal round.
He also added that he will make the most of his first Commonwealth Games, all while bringing glory to Guyana with his gloves.
Amsterdam has so-far lived up those words, as he was oozing with confidence as he entered the ring at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.
Amsterdam took the first round, scoring 10’s on three of the five judges’ scorecards.
The second was close but once again, Amsterdam was given the nod by three judges; the same results for the third and final round.
In fact, only Malaysia’s Mazlan Amzah and Lee Innes of England scored the bout in favour of the New Zealand boxer. Innes actually scored Emile as winning all three rounds.
Following his bout, Amsterdam said his victory is testimony to the hard work done with Coach Terrence Poole and sticking to the fight-plan.
Light welterweight, Colin Lewis, had his bout against Colin Richamo from Mauritius, stopped two minutes, 34 seconds in the second round.
Lewis’ fight was the first for the evening session at the NEC, and after learning of the compatriot’s defeat, Amsterdam said he felt the pressure of ensuring a victory.
“I know that I was next and I know we had to get a win; can’t get two losses one time, so I went out there and did my best. I know it wasn’t my best, but I can assure you that in my next fight, I will be 100%,” Amsterdam said.
Asked about being one win away from securing a medal, Amsterdam said “that’s all I’ve been thinking since I arrived. But right now, I’m thinking about it even more.
Amsterdam became the first boxer, since Eon Bancroft, to make it past the Round-of-16.
At the 2014 Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Bancroft reached the quater-finals of the Men’s Welterweight, where he was eventually beaten by South Africa’s Tulani Mbengewas.
Mbengewas went on to be defeated by eventual gold medallist, Scott Fitzgerald of England.
