BELIZE CITY, Tues. July 13, 2004

   A team of four boxers with their trainer and a delegate returned from San Jose, Costa Rica, today, where they participated in the 11th Central American Boxing Championships.

   Three of the four Belizean fighters took to the ring in the opening night.  Joseph Eagan faced Cristian Valverde of Costa Rica; Eduardo Babb was matched up with Honduran Gustavo Bernardez; and Moses Sulph took on Costa Rican fighter Agustin Salazar.

   All three fights ended in decision against the Belizean fighters.  In the 60kg weight class, Joseph Eagan, from the Fist of Truth Gym, lost to Valverde of Costa Rica. In the 64kg weight class, Edward Babb, Jr., from Lightburn Gym, lost to Honduran Gustavo Bernardez.  According to the team representatives of the Belize Boxing Federation, both fights were close in terms of points.

   Moses Sulph fought against host fighter Salazar of Costa Rica.  In the opinion of Team Belize and several other participating countries, the decision in that fight was biased and unfairly ruled in favor of the Costa Rican fighter.  In fact, several of the other fights were viewed as unfairly ruled for Costa Rica.

   Jose Espat only had three fighters in his weight class and got a bye into the fight for the gold.  The fight for the gold in the super heavyweight division was stopped in the first round because, according to amateur rules, if a fighter receives three 8 counts in one round, the fight must be stopped.

   According to a press release by the Belize Boxing Federation, Mr. Espat was counted because he was pushed out of the ring as opposed to being knocked out of the ring.  Even though the guidelines are clear on pushing an opponent, the referee did not make any discerning decision on the fault of the Costa Rican boxer.

   Moses Sulph fought at 75kg and Jose Espat at +91kg. Sulph and Espat are of Lightburn Gym.  The boxers were also accompanied by trainer, Ewart Lonke, and Geovani Martinez, who went on the trip as a delegate.