Impressive end to amateur contests

Several champions retained their titles as the National Amateur Boxing Championships came to an impressive end at the Woodbrook Youth Facility on Sunday night. The session saw amateur boxing at its best, with the open elite welterweights giving the crowd the most exciting bout of the entire event when Akiel Outram (Cosmic) and Stephen Charles (Black Hawks) locked themselves in a tight battle which had Outram ahead after the first round. 

Charles bounced back in the second, and took a lead of 20–14. With just under a minute to go in the final round, the referee decided Outram had enough and called the bout to an end. At the stoppage time, the scores were 26–20 in favour of Charles. Both young men were exchanging punches almost non-stop, with each displaying good technique, willpower and the desire to win. An appreciative crowd gave both boxers a standing ovation. 

In the regional clash dubbed “T&T vs The Caribbean”, the local champs put aside gym names and came together as one to compete against boxers from St Vincent, Guyana and Barbados. The T&T team won five of the eight bouts, with the women stealing the spotlight. Young Yousanna Mohammed fended off a fiery attack form Barbadian Iprecious Lyscott to cop an 8–7 victory while Chimere Taylor was in total control of her bout against Theresa London. Taylor seemed a much improved boxer, exuding a quiet but noticeable confidence. She skillfully maneuvered her way around the ring, catching London with a variety of punches to the head and body. London had no answer for the T&T boxer who made herself a very difficult target. At the end of four rounds, Taylor triumphed with a 16–3 margin.

The Championship was the largest in the history of the T&T Amateur Boxing Association (TTABA). With 86 local bouts and eight regional bouts, the five-day event was a resounding success. The championships ran smoothly from opening night and in the end, champions in all the weight divisions were crowned. The increased number of amateur boxers has been attributed to the collaborative work being done by the TTABA, the Ministry of Sport, The Sport Company and the T&T Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC).

Cecil Forde, president of the TTABA, said that the administrators were very pleased with the outcome of the championships. “The bouts were very competitive and making the cut for the national team will no longer be a walk in the park. Amateur boxing has an influx of new boxers and as such new talent has been emerging. We are working towards the 2016 Olympics and from all indications, it seems we will have some representatives for boxing in Rio”.

Keeping a keen eye on the proceedings of the championships was Boxu Potts, special adviser to the TTBBC. After the event ended on a high note with T&T boxer Chimere Taylor emphatically defeating Guyanese Theresa London, Potts said he was more than satisfied with the cadre of emerging champions. “We are seeing the resulting success of the work done over the past two years, where initiatives were focused on the nursery of boxing—the upbringing of the amateurs. The talent pool has drastically increased and the level of competition is the highest it has ever been,” said Potts.

The TTABA sent out special thanks to the Ministry of Sport, The Sport Company, The T&T Boxing Board of Control and Caribbean Bottlers Limited. They also commended the gyms throughout T&T for their participation and thanked the fans of boxing for attending the event. 

Results

Results  

57kg Junior Featherweight 
Christian McDonald (Ultimate Gym) def Raheem Modeste (Undisputed) – Decision
60kg Junior Lightweight 
Michael Edwards (Sand City) def Joash Lessey (Phoenix) – RSC
69kg Junior Light Middleweight
Ryan Cummings (Golden Fist) def Shaquille Aguella (White Eagle) – RSC
49kg Youth Flyweight 
Joel Ramoutar (Fine Line) def Rennie Chatoor (Phoenix) – RSC
60kg Youth Lightweight 
Kevin Coker (Cosmic) won by walkover vs Justin Balleram (Biomel)
91+kg Youth Super Heavyweight
Jealani Garcia (Fine Line) def Jeremy Rudolph (YANS) – Decision
75kg Novice Elite Middleweight
Joash Cyrus (Ultimate) def Adrian Stanley (Fighters Club) – Decision
52kg Open Elite Flyweight
Arsad Fabien (Magic) def Rocklyn Cornwall (BB & GD)
56kg Open Elite Bantamweight 
Aaron Cumberbatch (Cosmic) def Shakir Garcia (Magic) – Decision
60kg Open Elite Lightweight
Michael Alexander (World Class) def David Ramsey (Black Hawks) – RSC
64kg Open Elite Light Welterweight
Stephen Charles (Black Hawks) def Akiel Outram (Cosmic)
69kg Open Elite Welterweight
Lavel Nurse (THA Elite) def Joash Walkins (Rough House) – Decision
91kg Open Elite Heavyweight
Azariah Agard (TTDF) def Isaac Herbert (Golden Fist) – RSC

INTERNATIONAL
57kg Novice Featherweight
Kyle Ragoonath (T&T) def Emron Tittle (SVG) – Decision
60kg Novice Elite Lightweight
Kevin Coker (T&T) def Conrick Richardson (SVG) – Decision
91+kg Novice Super Heavyweight  
Kemron Beache (SVG) def Jermeil Guevera (T&T) – Decision
49kg Women Light Flyweight
Yousanna Mohmammed (T&T) def Iprecious Lyscott (B’dos)
49kg Women Light Flyweight
Stephanie Allen (T&T) def Akeisha Arokium (GUY) – Decision
59kg Women Lightweight
Jenny Benedict (B’dos) def Ingle Charles (T&T) – Decision
66kg Welterweight Women 
Kimberly Gittens (B’dos) def Kimberly Jackson (T&T) – Decision
75kg Women Middleweight
Chimere Taylor (T&T) def Theresa London (GUY) - Decision