Boxing event a big success at Tipsy Tuna in Placencia, April 5

According to our reports, the first ever boxing event at the Tipsy Tuna beach resort in Placencia on Saturday night was a big success, with hundreds of spectators in attendance to witness an exciting 14-bout amateur card. The action got started at 6:00 p.m. and lasted until around 10:30 p.m., after which medals were presented to the winners.

Participating boxers were from Clinton Tucker’s Lions Den Gym in Ladyville, Frank Martinez’s Lions Den Gym in Cayo, Leopold Smart’s Gym in Belize City, George Swaso’s Dangriga Gym, and there were also boxers from Placencia and Cowpen making their debut in the sport in front of their home fans.

Judges for the event were Elton Anderson, Duane Saldano, Darrel Arnold and Robert Ordonez, Jr. Bell/timekeeper was Leshawn Pollard, referee was Robert Ordonez, Sr., and the doctor in attendance was Dr. Alexis Caballero. The boxers fought 3-minute rounds with 1 minute rest in between rounds.

In the 2-round opening bout between 8-year-olds, Jaheem Velasquez, 64 lbs, of Ladyville scored a 2nd round knock-down of his opponent, and went on to win a unanimous decision over Victor Sanchez, 51 lbs, of Cayo.

Next it was the 12-year-olds, and Carlos Silvero, 68 lbs, of Cayo won a unanimous 3-round decision over Kendis Gentle, 82 lbs, of Smart Gym in Belize City.

Jace Acosta, 71 lbs, of Cayo won a 3-round unanimous decision over 11-year-old Mark Avilez, 72 lbs, of Belize City.

Stepping up to heavier weights, 18-year-old Maximilio Silvero, 131 lbs, of Cayo scored a 2nd round knockout over 19-year-old Elijah Pinkard, 125 lbs, of Belize City.

Bout #5 saw 15-year-old Lester Soler, 124 lbs, of Cayo winning by knockout in the 3rd round over 18-year-old Deon Gongora, 122 lbs, of Dangriga.

Two 14-year-old 102 pounders clashed in bout #6, and the older Avilez brother, Akeem of Belize City, won a 3-round unanimous decision over Jose Velasquez of Cowpen.

Smart Gym in Belize City was also successful in bout #7, where 14-year-old Giovanni Rudon, 132 lbs, got the 2nd round win by disqualification over 15-year-old Lashawn Wade, 138 lbs, of Ladyville.

In bout #8, Cayo Lions Den’s boxing star, 17-year-old Andy Dominguez, 111 lbs, scored a 1st round TKO over 17-year-old Sergio Zabeda, 138 lbs, of Cowpen.

A female exhibition followed in bout #9, and it was Cayo’s 17-year-old Kira Gonzalez, 103 lbs, gaining a 3-round split decision over Ladyville’s 15-year-old Sassani Tucker, 110 lbs.

Two 140 pounders made their boxing debut in bout #10, and former footballer Jael Ottley, 23 yrs, of Ladyville scored a sensational 1st round knockout, at 1 minute 10 seconds into the fight, over 28-year-old Danny Burks of Placencia. Ladyville Lions Den manager Clinton Tucker said the fight was fairly even, as both rookie boxers were “letting it all out,” when Jael caught Danny with a perfect hook to the jaw.

Placencia fans were again disappointed in bout #11, when 29-year-old Independence native David Burgess, 163 lbs, made his boxing debut with a 2nd round TKO loss to Cayo’s Amiel Topsey, 151 lbs.

The 12th bout of the evening saw the Cayo Lions Den registering its eighth victory out of 9 in which they participated, as 20-year-old Christian Yacab, 183 lbs, won by TKO in the first round over Placencia’s 24-year-old Julian Bull, 185 lbs.

Bout #13 saw two 19-year-olds going the 3-round distance, with the unanimous decision going in favor of Harold Mariano, 147 lbs, of Belize City over Brinton Flowers, 149 lbs, of Ladyville.

And in the final bout of the evening, the main event, 32-year-old Orin Velasquez, 171 lbs, of Ladyville won a 3-round unanimous decision over Placencia’s 32-year-old Nicholas Pollard, Jr., 157 lbs. With the victory, Orin told us that his record is now 4-1, having lost only in his first outing.

The Belize Boxing Federation sanctioned event was a “Lions Den Production,” and Ladyville Lions Den manager Clinton Tucker said that, among the sponsors of the event, special mention must be given to Allan Garbutt of Belize City who gave tremendous assistance in making the event possible. Other kind sponsors of the Tipsy Tuna boxing card included: Tipsy Tuna, Atlantic Bank, Belize Bank, Purple Space Monkey Restaurant & Bar, Robert’s Grove, Barefoot Bar, Mojo’s Restaurant & Bartique, Seashore Dive Shop, Charro’s Bar & Grill and Omar’s Creole.

(Information courtesy Clinton Tucker of Ladyville Lions Den and Frank Martinez of Cayo Lions Den. Pictures courtesy Orin Velasquez.)

(Editor’s Note: At the Belize Boxing Federation sponsored “Road to Glory” boxing card at Bird’s Isle on December 15, 2013, Minister of Sports Hon. Herman Longsworth entered the ring during a break in the action and pledged, as we recall, “more assistance in the near future, including the sponsorship by the National Sports Council of an annual National Boxing Championship, beginning in April of 2014.” April has come, but not gone, yet.)