Guyana Boxing Association Open and Junior boxing championships...

Guyana Boxing Association Open and Junior boxing championships…

Nov 12, 2013 Sports

GDF is champion gym but Police carts off best boxer prize

By Michael Benjamin
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) scored 10 points and was duly declared champion gym when the curtains came down on the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Open and Junior Boxing championships at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, Friday evening last; the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Republican Boxing Gym ended at 4 points apiece to share the second place slot.
Guyana Police Force middleweight pugilist, Dennis Thomas, salvaged some pride for his organization when he copped the coveted best boxer award after forcing Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) representative, William Hendricks, to retire at 2:15secs into the first frame.

Referee, Richard Braithwaite keeps his eyes peeled as Jason Barker (R) pummels away on Kenroy Evelyn.

The lanky Thomas wasted little time with his opponent and rushed out with a barrage of shots at the bell. Hendricks chose to cover up but discovered that he needed far more than two hands to complete the task. Several ramrod shots connected to his head and he drifted into the neutral corner where Thomas continued the onslaught.
Hendricks never suggested permanence and when a wicked left hook connected to his temple nearing the end of the first round, he fell to the canvass where the referee decided that he had seen enough and waved the bout off to save him from further punishment.
In what many opined was the best fight of the night, Imran Khan and Stephan Gouveia engaged in a slugfest that kept the appreciative crowd alive for its entire duration. The two had faced off in the August edition of the Guyana Fight Night and Gouveia had prevailed by a close points decision. Still smarting from that loss, Khan attacked from the first gong but Gouveia refused to wilt; he matched his opponent’s every blow and both boxers enjoyed great moments.
Boxing out of a southpaw stance, Gouveia entered the second round with sharp combinations that had Khan covering up but not for long; the lanky Police boxer lashed out and scored valuable points to his opponent’s body and head that pushed him towards the ropes. Gouveia attempted to trap Khan in one of the neutral corners but the wily Police representative wriggled out and scored with several unanswered combinations that brought a tinge of blood from Gouveia’s nose.
The third round was a classic as both pugilists venomously went after each other. Gouveia slammed a combination to Khan’s body but the lanky Khan took it like a man and served up a three punch combination that pushed his man backwards. The two then engaged in a delightful exchange in centre ring right up to the bell. It was truly a hard bout to call but in the end the judges ruled in favour of Khan and handed him the national lightweight crown.

Jamal Eastman (L) keeps Odeny Moore at bay with a stiff left jab.

Republican bantamweight boxer, Stephon Nedd, needed just 21secs to transform Forgotten Youth Foundation FYF) representative, Leonard Allicock’s face into a bloody mess, forcing the referee to summon the ringside physician who in turn called a premature halt to the bantamweight encounter.
Another representative of the Guyana Police Force, Eon Bancroft was somewhat lucky to win his welterweight encounter against Ron Smith (GDF). The former boxer started the fight bustling forward trying to lure his man into close exchanges but Smith refused to fall into the trap and chose to box around while unleashing sporadic combinations. Bancroft kept up the pressure in the second round but Smith retained a cool composure and dished out several well timed combinations. Not to be outdone, Bancroft stitched in several right crosses to set up an interesting final round.
Bancroft bustled out in the third attempting to lure his man into a slugfest round but Smith averted the confrontation with a slick jab and move tactic. On many occasions he had his man off balanced while countering with crisp right crosses. A determined Bancroft pushed on and scored with a few looping punches but it was Smith that remained composed and scored the cleaner punches and when the final bell rung he appeared confident of clinching the verdict but the judges ruled differently causing a large portion of the audience to voice their disapproval.
Another Bancroft, this time Orin, of the Harpy Eagles, was all aggression against Junior Henry (FYF) and was in total control for all of two rounds with sharp punches and slick moves. He then got cocky, dropped his guard and was tagged with a wicked right that sent him to the canvass where he was counted out at 1:24secs of the third frame.
The bantamweight crown was won by Republican, Stephon Nedd. Bert Braithwaite fought his gym mate Aquincy Harvey and the two started tamely as though afraid to hurt each other. A stern warning from the referee prompted Braithwaite into action and he unleashed a vicious two fisted attack that rocked his man and forced him to recoil. Harvey made it through the two rounds but folded from a two fisted assault 28secs into the final round.
Light/heavyweight GDF boxer, Desmond Amsterdam, was also in winners’ row and forced the referee to call a halt to his bout against his gym mate, Omar Charles in 2:49secs of the second round. The win makes it three championships in a row for Amsterdam who, earlier in the year, had won the novice and intermediate championships. The final encounter for the night saw Jason Barker stopping Kenroy Evelyn in 1:30scs of the second round to win the heavyweight crown.
Meanwhile, Jamal Eastman (PRBG) prevailed on points over Odeny Moore (EBG) to clinch the 95-99lbs title in the junior segment of the tournament while Kevon Mullings (HEBG) captured the honours in the 75-79lbs category against Delroy Allicock (EBG). Quincy Wright (EBG) outpointed Jamie Kellman (YA) to win the 50-54lbs category mo0ments before Shaka Moore (EBG) triumphed over Elijah Insanally (HEBG) in the 2105-209lbs division.