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Boxing “Road to Glory” tournament begins at Bird’s Isle

SportsBoxing “Road to Glory” tournament begins at Bird’s Isle

The rain held up enough, and the event was about an hour late in getting started, but the fans who turned up at Bird’s Isle on Sunday afternoon for the first leg of the Belize Boxing Federation’s “Road to Glory” boxing elimination tournament enjoyed an 8-bout card of young boxers who launched their first bid to join the team that will represent Belize abroad in next year’s international tournaments. Referee/judges Robert Ordonez and Houston Carr lent their services to the day’s event, as did Dr. Michael Pitts.

It was an 8-bout amateur boxing card, with mostly young boxers as small as 62 pounds, some making their debut in the boxing ring. Boxers hailed from the Leopold Smart Gym in Belize City, as well as from the Lions Den Gym in Ladyville, under Clinton Tucker, and the Lions Den Gym in San Ignacio, under Frank Martinez.

In the opening bout, in the 62 lbs weight class, referee Robert Ordonez stopped the bout and awarded the victory to Carlos Silvero (Lions Den Cayo) over Randolph Gibson (Smart) who was making his boxing debut. In the 68 lbs class, Mark Avilez (Smart) won a split decision over Anzel Ku (Lions Den Cayo). The next bout featured two boxers from the Smart Gym, and it was Kadeem Lewis, 112 lbs, gaining the unanimous decision over Akeem Avilez, 110 lbs.

Houston Carr then took over the referee duties, as Ismael Guerra (Lions Den Cayo) won a unanimous decision over fellow Cayo boxer Shamir Arzu (Lions Den Cayo).

There was then a break in the action, as Sports Minister, Hon. Herman Longsworth climbed into the ring to hand over some sorely needed boxing equipment – head gear, gloves, etc. – to Belize Boxing Federation President, Moses Sulph. The Minister pledged 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. He was followed inside the ring by renowned boxing trainer, Ms. Henrietta Gill, the only female boxing trainer in the country, who made a personal presentation of a trophy of appreciation to boxer Sherman Galvez, whom she once trained as a youth, and who recently won a bronze medal in the Central American Boxing Championship along with Max Williams.

The action then resumed with 130 lbs Maximiliano Silvero (Lions Den Cayo) winning by a 2nd round stoppage by referee Houston Carr over Eduardo Garcia (Lions Den Ladyville).

Referee Ordonez then resumed duties, and as reported by FFB President Moses Sulph, “Andy Dominguez (Lions Den Cayo), junior boxer 110 lbs, showed his superior talent and experience over up and coming prospect Devin Tucker (Lions Den Ladyville), to earn a second round referee stopped contest (RSC).” “Raheem Lambey (Smart Club) was very impressive in his victory over Carlos Espinosa (Lions Den Ladyville) in the 138 lbs division.” And in the final bout of the evening, “Warren Davis (Lions Den Ladyville) out-punched his opponent, Briton Flowers (also of Lions Den Ladyville) in the 138 lbs class,” to gain the decision.

Among the fans in attendance at Sunday’s Road to Glory event were Belize’s still official Middleweight Champion, Murphy “Nadal” McClaren, and outstanding welterweight of the 1970’s, Henry “Boxer” Gill.

According to BBF President Moses Sulph, the second leg of the “Road to Glory” tournament will be held on January 15 at a venue to be announced. Sponsors for Sunday’s event included the National Sports Council, Smart Phone Company, Krem Radio, Spoonaz Photo Café, First Stop Pawn Shop, Musa and Balderamos, and Mr. Richard Matus.

Meanwhile, Lions Den Ladyville manager Clinton Tucker visited our sports desk this morning to remind us of the Cayo Lions Den Boxing Club event this coming Saturday, December 21, in San Ignacio. He said they are also toying with the idea of possibly holding another event at Bird’s Isle for “Boxing Day,” December 26. “Our youths are hungry for action,” said Clinton, “and we need to keep them busy.”

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