The Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) contingent of fighters were ruthless in their defence of the overall title at the Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) Lennox Blackmore National Intermediate Championship which came ended Sunday night at the National Gymnasium.
Such was the dominance of the army fighters that they won seven of the ii categories on finals night.
Despite their dominance however, the story of the three nights of fistic fury was the standout performance from Forgotten Youth Foundation’s (FYF) Septon Barton.
Barton showed his class in the lightweight division to win the title and be adjudged ‘Best Boxer’.
limelight over the course of three nights to pick up the Best Boxer
award in addition to the lightweight title.
At the beginning of the competition, FYF’s coach Sebert Blake had thrown down the gauntlet to all and sundry despite just having three fighters in the ring. In the end, all three of Blake’s charges made it to the final of their respective weight divisions, two winning titles while one was second best.
Barton and Travis Inverary (light middleweight) ended up winners while Wayne Castello (flyweight) gave his all against GDF’s Lincoln Murray but was outboxed, losing on points.
In the bantamweight division, Wavell Massiah fought GDF’s Julian Clarke and promptly lost two minutes 41 seconds into the first round. Massiah received three consecutive standing counts, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
Meanwhile, in an all GDF affair, Ezekiel Persaud abandoned his featherweight title match against Melroy McPherson. After being on the receiving end of some lusty blows, Persaud threw in the towel just 41 seconds into the second round to hand McPherson the title.
FYF’s Barton came up against GDF’s Oswald Jewan in the final of the lightweight class and administered a boxing exhibition despite his opponent’s best efforts. Such was Barton’s ferocity, the referee had to stop the fight in the second round with just one minute 22 seconds on the timer.
The junior welterweight division final served up another all-GDF affair, this time though, the bout was seen through to the end by both pugilists. After some deliberation due to a close contest, it was judged that Christopher Cummings did just enough to edge his gym mate Joseph Gardner on points.
GDF’s Rondell Captain then had a split decision victory over Elliot St Claire to claim the welterweight title
FYF’s Travis Inverary had GDF’s Christopher Henry in the way of his light middleweight title campaign but did not falter, making light work of the GDF boxer. Inverary just required one minute 32 seconds in round one to win, consigning Henry to three consecutive standing counts.
In the middleweight final, GDF’s Alex Butcher connected with a powerful right hook to the temple of gym mate Orin Domingo to stop the bout with just a few seconds remaining in the first round.
Hullman Bovell of the GDF gym clinched the cruiserweight final, forcing his opponent, Camara Chandelier to retire at the end of the first round.
Javon Thomas landed a superior amount of punches in the light heavyweight final to beat GDF’s Malachi Clarke on points while Clarke’s gym mate Zidhan Wray stopped Ryan Harry 23 seconds into their super heavyweight final.
In an exclusive comment to Stabroek Sports, coach of the overall champions, Terrence Poole, expressed pleasure at the way his fighters went about the business of rating the title.
Lincoln Murray received high praises for the resolve he showed in beating the experienced Wayne Castello for the flyweight title.
“It was an excellent title defence, we got seven out of the 11 titles up for grabs. It was a great effort, because the other gyms usually complain that GDF brings a large number of fighters, but this time around the Police brought a big team (14 boxers), so it shows that we put in the work,’ said Poole.
According to Poole, GDF had a short preparation time due to boxing being more of a seasonal sport in the army camp.
”Boxing is seasonal in the GDF so it’s heartening to see that after such a short preparation time, we came out with good results. I am satisfied with the tournament, seven out of 11 is great and it ensures that GDF maintains their stronghold on local boxing,” stated Poole.
Aside from FYF’s Barton winning the Best Boxer accolade, the Best Coach award was shared by FYF’s Sebert Blake and Police’s Dexter Marques. GDF was adjudged the ‘Best Gym’ while the Best Referee/Judge went to George Moore.
