Alex Neal vs Mohammad Harmouch; F.C. Belize vs BDF
Boxing is finally returning to Bird’s Isle after an extended leave; and the Premier League of Belize goes into full football gear with Week 3 of an already hotly contested 2012-2013 Closing Season; and it all happens this weekend.
The “Island” in Belize City will be the scene of an all-Belizean amateur boxing card beginning at 11:00 this Sunday morning, February 24, involving boxers from four local gyms – San Pedro Boxing Gym, Leo Pol Gym from Belize City, Lions Den Gym from Ladyville, and Lions Den Gym from Cayo. Promoter Clinton Tucker, manager of the Ladyville gym, says there will be a number of youth and female bouts, with two main events, one female and one male. In the female main event, Shenique Michael of Ladyville’s Lions Den Gym tangles with Pauline Reneau of Belize City’s Leo Pol Gym; and the male main event features San Pedro Gym’s Mohammad Harmouch vs Alex Neal of Ladyville’s Lions Den Gym.
And after boxing, Belize City fans will shift their attention to the MCC, where the Premier League Week 3 match-up at 4:00 p.m. will see home standing F.C. Belize, who are 1-1, taking on Belize Defense Force, who sport a 2-0 record.
The other team with a 2-0 record is defending champion Belmopan Bandits, and they clash with (1-1) Police United on Saturday night in Belmopan.
In Week 2 games last weekend, Belmopan Bandits dropped FC San Felipe Barcelona, 2-0, (Saturday night, Isidoro Beaton) with goals from David Trapp (27’ PK) and Ian Gaynair (89’); San Ignacio United clipped Verdes, 1-nil, (Saturday night, Marshalleck Stadium) on a goal by Leonard Valdez (48’); F.C. Belize burned Police United, 1-nil, (Sunday afternoon, MCC) with a goal from Michael Hernandez (30’); and Belize Defense Force grabbed a 2-1 win over Placencia Assassins (Sunday afternoon, Norman Broaster) with goals from Paul Nunez (42’) and Shane Flores (90+’), while Luis Torres (56’) got the goal for Placencia.
Both of last PLB season’s winners have received their cash prizes – champions Belmopan Bandits got their $15,000.00 check; and sub-champs Police United received $5,000.00. The stakes are expected to be even higher this season, as it is our understanding that the aggregate points winner (including the 2012-2013 Opening and Closing Regular Seasons) gets to represent Belize in the CONCACAF Champions League tournament. As close as the race was in last season, things are shaping up to be just as tight in this one.
This weekend promises two highly anticipated match-ups, as Bandits vs Police is a repeat of last season’s finals clash, and FC Belize vs BDF is an old-time City rivalry, from when BDF used to be a Belize City- based team.
PLB Week 3 schedule:
Saturday, February 23
7:30 p.m. – Belmopan Bandits FC vs Police United FC – Isidoro Beaton Stadium
Sunday, February 24
3:30 p.m. – Placencia Assassins FC vs Verdes FC – Placencia Football Field
3:30 p.m. – San Ignacio United FC vs FC San Felipe Barcelona – Norman Broaster Stadium
4:00 p.m. – FC Belize vs Belize Defense Force FC – MCC Grounds