Ramnarine by a split decision

Boxer Ria Ramnarine announced her return to the ring with a split-decision victory over Columbian Olga Julio in front of 200 people at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo, on Sunday night. In her first bout since her nine-month ban ended on January 24, Ramnarine successfully defended her WBC Cabofe Flyweight title and also secured the vacant WIBF, WIBA, GBU belts. Guyanese judges Andrew Thorne (98-92) and Eon Jardine (99-94) both gave her the verdict while Bajan Hayden Downes (95-99) sided with her southpaw opponent. Ramnarine began the fight positively though Julio seemed more in command during the early stages. Most of the ten rounds began and ended with the fighters trading aggressive swipes with the tempo being lowered in the middle stages.

Light on her feet and relaxed in bodylanguage, Julio looked comfortable throughout the match in contrast to Ramnarine’s eagerness to attack. The 24-year-old was content to step back and wait patiently for Ramnarine to make her move before responding with counter punches. The two spent most of the tenth round tangled in each other’s arms and with the crowd chanting “Ria” as the clock wound down, they turned on the aggression once more before the end.

Following the decision, Ramnarine cited her positive approach as the reason for her victory. “I think I made better connection with better punches. I definitely kept stalking her. I was going at her all the time and you know, I think my aggression would have been the key.” She also questioned her opponent’s tactics, accusing her of being too defensive: “No disrespect to her but I would have really preferred if she had come to fight rather than run. It’s really difficult having to fight someone who keeps running all the time. Come on, it’s a boxing match.”

On the judges’ decision, she said: “I don’t understand the split decision but hey, who am I to argue? I’ve always been in the middle of some controversy with judges’ decisions, I am Ria Ramnarine after all, but I never argue with them.” In other results, American-based Lorissa Rivers got the better of Barbados’ Sharon Ann Antigua, Shawn Cox outmatched Carlton Bailey in the battle of the Bajans and local girl Tiana Sosa Saney defeated her compatriot Leeann Boodram. Also in attendance were Olympic gold medalist Hasely Crawford and comedian Sprangalang, who was the programme’s MC.

Placide out for a month
Professional boxer, Kevin “The Fighting Policeman” Placide will be sidelined for the next month because of a fractured rib. Placide did not take his place in the ring on Sunday against Guyanese Winston Pompey for the Cabofe light-middleweight title at Jean Pierre Complex, after an injury to his left lower rib early Saturday morning. “I slipped and fell, hitting my side while leaving my sister’s house in St Mary’s, Moruga, and couldn’t make it to the weigh-in,” stated Placide yesterday. “I was in plenty pain.” “I only saw Dr Jacob Hadeed on Sunday morning and results showed that I had a fractured rib,” he pointed out.

Boxing Results

Mixed Martial Art Bouts
Superlight Weight (140 LBS)
David Sinaswee  won over  Prince Tutankhawan  TKO   1st – 3 rounds
Heavyweight (Over 200 lbs)
Kenneth Bishops won over Rodney Williams  TKO  1st – 3 rounds

Boxing Bouts
Lightweight (135 lbs)
Tiana Sosa Saney won over Leeann Boodram Majority Decision 4th – 4 rounds
40 -37: 39 – 38: 30 – 38
Cruiserweight (200 lbs)
Shawn Cox  won over Carlton Bailey  TKO   1st – 4th rounds. Time: 1:39
Superwelter Weight (140 lbs)
Winston Pompey vs. Iwan Azore    Technical Draw 3rd – 12 rounds
As a result of an accidental head butt to Pompey. Time: 2:02
Middleweight (160 lbs)
Lorissa Rivas  won over Sharon Ann Antigua Unanimous Decision 4th – 4 rounds
39-37: 40-36: 40-36
Minimumweight (105 lbs)
Ria Ramnarine  won over Olga Julio Split Decision  1st – 10th rounds
98-92; 95-99; 98-94