Disciplined JDF top boxing champs

Preparation and discipline enabled the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to take top honours in the National Amateur Boxing Championships held at the Stanley Couch Gym in Kingston last weekend.

Ten gyms participated, and the JDF scored an impressive 42 points, well ahead of Stanley Couch 22, Bruising 17, St Thomas 14, G.C. Foster 10, Oracabessa 6, Heavy Metal 5, Dream Sports 4, Boys Town 3 and Sugar Olympic 2.

Special guests at the finals on Saturday were Oliver McCall, former world heavyweight champion; and USA boxing promoter Chris Joy.

The army men were superior to the other teams in every department, and although some of their bouts were keenly contested, they were able to produce the extra spark at the right moment to take the honours. They were very aggressive in the closing 10 seconds of each round, a tactic that paid rich dividends for them.

The most exciting bout of the night, was the lightweight contest between the army's Marvin Shea and Sanjay Williams from Bruising gym, who reached the finals by dethroning defending champion Ricardo Carter from G.C. Foster gym.

SPLIT DECISION

In a torrid third round, in which both boxers let it all out, Shea's consistency ruled the day, and he came away with a split decision. He was also voted the outstanding boxer of the competition.

Former middleweight champion Janathan Hanson, from Stanley Couch, regained his title with a good victory over Alando Lewis from Heavy Metal gym.

Hanson was methodical, and Lewis did not challenge him enough during the encounter to give himself a better chance of victory. The bouts in the heavier weight classes ended with decisions that neither the losers nor the crowd agreed with. In the light-heavyweight division, Ian Darby from the JDF was given the nod over Carlos Dwyer from Stanley Couch. Dwyer was impressive, but the hard working Darby got the nod from the judges.

There was also crowd displeasure with the decision in the heavyweight division, when army man Bassanio Shaw outpointed Clive Thomas from St Thomas. This, too, was close, but Shaw finished each round with a flurry of activity, and this assisted his cause. In the Super heavyweight division, veteran Dukey Rowe from Stanley Couch, used his experience to defeat

Ricardo Brown from the G.C. Foster gym.

The army's Gilbert Vaz was named the outstanding coach, and a special award was given by the Jamaica Boxing Board to referee/judge Ransford Burton for his invaluable service to boxing.