‘Frog’ Holmes faces Pompey tonight

Skateland, Half-Way Tree will be electrified with stiff competition as eight gyms vie for $100,000 and gym equipment valued at $500,000. Gates open at 6 p.m., as fans will be treated to nine amateur fights and one professional bout. Jamaican Richard ‘Frog’ Holmes and Winston Pompey from Guyana will clash in what is a highly anticipated fight.

This is the second and final staging of Wray & Nephew Rum Punch Boxing Series, which kicked off on Friday, November 22 at the Spanish Town Prison Oval in St Catherine.

“Wray & Nephew has always heavily invested in the sport of boxing, and our Rum Punch Series demonstrate further commitment to the sport and its development,” Wray & Nephew Marketing Manager Nadia Kiffin-Green said.

Bruising Gym coach Carl Grant says he is pleased with the incentives on offer by the sponsors as they are designed to encourage the upcoming pugilists.

Amateur development

“This is all about amateur development,” he said. “We are trying to develop upcoming boxers that will have a long-lasting effect on the quality of the talent in Jamaica.”

Grant and promoter Andrew Boland are collaborating with Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum on this latest venture.

Jamaica Boxing Board president Stephen Jones has also endorsed the event.

“The last meeting I had with a group of coaches and boxing managers; what seemed to be the consensus was that they would love a round-robin sort of tournament where the amateur and professional boxers would benefit, along with the gyms,” he said. “We are happy to see the fruition of this community-based boxing series with a partner like Wray & Nephew.”

In 2010, Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum renewed interest and popularity of local boxing with its now concluded Contender Series. To continue their thrust in the sport, the rum brand launched a new community-based series which is aimed at developing a deeper pool of boxing talent in the island from the grass-roots level.

The event also features musical performances by Shane-o and Munga.

Gyms down to compete:

Boom Boom Gym (Seaview Gardens, St Andrew)

Jamaica Defence Force Boxing Gym (Up Park Camp, Kingston)

Bruising Gym (Stony Hill, St Andrew)

Oracabessa Boxing Gym (Oracabessa, St Mary)Sugar Knockout Gym (Olympic Gardens, St Andrew)

Stanley Couch Gym (Central Kingston)

Dream Sports Boxing Gym (Spanish Town, St Catherine)

St Thomas Boxing Club (St Thomas)