Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
In what should have been a bloodthirsty duel between two fierce boismen, three-time King of the Rock, O’Neil Odel, had little to do before being crowned the 2024 National Stickfighting Champion.
Odel battled Sixth Company Gayelle brothers Donald and Ronald Lewis in the penultimate and ultimate rounds at the finals in San Fernando on Wednesday night. However, the boismen fired only a few lashes, refusing to go hard at each other.
Hundreds came out at Skinner Park gayelle hoping for “blood and buss heads.” The chantuelle bellowed as the drums echoed. Jab jab whipping each other’s bare skin left some newcomers amazed, while devilish fire-breathing jab molassies had some ducking from the heat.
Although patrons were disappointed at the sparse blows in the final bouts, a jubilant Odel walked away with $30,000, a hamper and a trophy.
Donald took the second-place prize of $20,000 and a trophy, while Ronald won $10,000, a hamper and a trophy.
Fourth-place finisher Evon Ralph won only $,5000 but was one of a few boismen who entered the gayelle to share licks.
“It was not that tense. It was very easy because I already knew I won in the spiritual form, so I really needed to do it in the human form. So I already knew I would win before I won,” Odel said.
He faced off against Mark Quashie in the first fight, with his opponent whimpering through the five minutes trying to avoid a beating. Officials determined there had to be a redo and Odel eventually delivered Quashie a “buss head”.
Odel’s best match was against Anderson Marcano, who was ducking bois until the champion sent him tumbling to the edge of the gayelle.
There were oohs, ahhs and chants of “give him bois” from the crowd as Odel had Marcano on his knee, losing his bois and getting licks from behind. After several blows, Odel left his challenger with a swollen forearm.
Against Donald, the boisman put on more of an exhibition of dance, making a few lofty but safe strikes that his opponent easily defended.
Speaking after the bout, Odel revealed that he fought with a broken finger but preferred not to return to his village as a warrior who had bowed out with an injury.
“I want to say to all the fighters who fought tonight, strength and honour go out to them, and warriors do not lose. Warriors do not give up,” he declared.
While many of the faces in the gayelle were familiar, Odel says there were several new fighters this year who shocked him with their style. However, he said his orthodox style prevailed.
While most fighters prepare in gyms and training centres, Odel said mixing concrete is good preparation. He said boismen have more comfortable fights these days, as the older folks used to fight under flambeaus and candles for a bottle of rum and bragging rights. Now, boismen compete for money under stadium lights.
