Make that six

JAMAICAN HEAVYWEIGHT boxer Ricardo ‘Big 12’ Brown scored another impressive knockout victory last Saturday night, taking less than one minute to make his record 6-0.

Fighting in one of the preliminary bouts of a five-fight card promoted by United Boxing Promotions at the Pickering Casino Resort in Ontario, Canada, Brown knocked out Mexican Cruz Duran Sarmiento with a solid right hook to the body.

Another Jamaican, Richard ‘Frog’ Holmes, who fought in one of the feature bouts on the card, that was scheduled for 10 rounds against Brandon ‘Bad Boy’ Cooke, lost by a sixth-round knockout in a bruising, action-packed fight.

Brown, who, at 6’ 7” and 265 pounds, is gaining a name for himself in Canada where he now lives. He had a good year in 2022, and ended with a 5-0, all-knockouts record. He was an overwhelming favourite going into the fight against an opponent whose record was four wins and two draws.

SOLID RIGHT HOOK

He used his jab to set up his opponent, and tested him with a couple of combinations. Near the end of the first minute, he threw a jab and followed with a solid right hook to the body that caused his opponent to grimace and fall to the canvas.

Bent over in agony, he was counted out at the 56-second mark.

Brown said afterwards that he was “pleased with how the fight ended” and is now looking forward to another fight soon.

His chief trainer, Dewith Frazer, told The Gleaner, the plan is to give him better competition as he progresses in the pro ranks, but admitted it was difficult getting opponents to fight Brown because of his growing reputation.

“He is still learning the ropes as a pro, so he has to be guided carefully, but hopefully we can get some good quality boxers to challenge him, as he progresses over the next few months,” said Frazer.

Holmes entered the ring with a 19-12 record, against an opponent with a 24-2 record and a reputation of being an aggressive fighter. It was action from the first bell, with Cooke calling the shots. Holmes kept himself in the picture with good infighting, but went down in agony in round four, from a low blow. He was given an extended period of time to recover, but was not himself afterwards.

Cooke piled on the pressure and ended it at 2:04 of the sixth round, with some excellent combination punching to the delight of his supporters.

The venue was a new one for boxing in Canada and promoter, Tyler Buxton, who is well known in Jamaica, said afterwards that he was pleased with the response of spectators to the card and the venue.