Prized pugilists, Keevin Allicock and Desmond Amsterdam put on spirited performances last night at these ongoing XXII Commonwealth Games here in Birmingham, England but ultimately failed in their bid to clinch semi-final berths.
In front of an overflowing and boisterous crowd at the National Exhibition Centre, Hall 4, Allicock gave his featherweight Canadian opponent, Keoma Ali Al Ahmadieh, all he could handle in a highly entertaining bout that could have easily gone either way.
However, at the end of the three nail biting rounds, the southpaw Al Ahmadieh was adjudged the winner via split decision. The score cards read, 30-27, 29-28 x 3 and 28-29.
Following the fight, Allicock voiced his disappointment at the final outcome.
“I am disappointed because I know I won the fight,” declared a visibly dejected Allicock.
I think I showed that I am a better boxer, the judges’ decision is final but I am not pleased with it. I really wanted to take a medal back to my country but I will have to go back and come better again.”
The Guyanese contingent was once again surprised later in the evening when referee, Farhad Kvasji stopped Desmond Amsterdam’s middleweight duel with Callum Peters from Australia with 20 seconds remaining in the second round after a second standing eight-count.
Amsterdam was cornered and caught with some clean punches after landing some of his own and was not hurt or by any means out of the fight when Kvasji inexplicably put a halt to the contest ending his debut campaign at the event.
Said Amsterdam in post-fight comments “We were both trading punches and I got an unexpected punch and got counted. I don’t think the fight should have stopped like that because we were both trading punches and connecting.”
He added, “But this is my first Commonwealth Games and I enjoyed it, this is definitely a learning experience for me and in the future I know I will do better, I just have to go back home and work on my mistakes.”
Allicock, along with Amsterdam who was a bronze medalist at the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Championships in Ecuador in April, were part of a three-man boxing team which represented Guyana at the XX11 edition of the Games.
Light welterweight, Colin Lewis lost his opening bout via a round two stoppage to Colin Louis of Mauritius while Allicock had dominated his first two fights, winning unanimously against Kenyan, Nicholas Okongo Okoth, and Jeewantha Nisshanka of Sri Lanka.
Amsterdam was also victorious at these Games. On Sunday, he won his initial encounter on points against Emile Richard of New Zealand.
Following their victories, the pair was looking to earn spots in the final four and snap Guyana’s 32-year medal drought at the Games in the discipline.
Note: Wesley Christmas boxed his way to Guyana’s last medal, a bronze in 1990 when the 14th edition of the Games was staged in Auckland, New Zealand.
