YEAR IN REVIEW: Boxing revival well under way

AFTER A three-year hiatus due to the impact of COVID-19, the sport of boxing returned with a bang to the local scene in 2023 with an array of activities both inside and outside of the ring.

The year saw the launch of the J Wray & Nephew-sponsored Fight Night series, an initiative aimed at reviving local boxing.

With the blessings of the Jamaica Boxing Board (JBB), Fight Nights, which is held every six weeks, began in June. The Fight Night series is a platform to showcase rising stars in boxing in various communities across the country.

JBB president, Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones stated that the series is a perfect platform for boxers to train more and become valuable to promoters locally and across the globe.

In July, history was made inside the T-Mobile Arena in Texas, USA when previously undefeated welterweight boxer, Errol Spence Jr, who is an American with strong Jamaican ties, went up against compatriot Terrence Crawford for all four major World titles in their class.

Spencer Jr, whose father is a Jamaican, entered the contest with a record of 28-0 with 22 knockouts, but was defeated by technical knockout in the ninth round by Crawford, who was also unbeaten heading into the bout with a record of 39-0 with 30 knockdowns.

October saw the introduction of the first female bout in the Fight Night series featuring reigning American Boxing Confederation Caribbean champion, Sherikee Moore.

Moore, who trains at the Suga Knock Out Gym in Olympic Gardens, St Andrew, went up against Shanika Gordon from the Jamaica Defence Force, prompting excitement for the locals at the Ebony Vale Community Centre in St Catherine.

Also in October, veteran boxing coach and former professional fighter, Lindel ‘Suga’ Wallace was honoured at the Fight Night series at Ebony Vale Centre, for his invaluable contribution to the sport.

The Cockburn Pen, Kingston native was pivotal in establishing and operating one of the few training facilities for boxers in all weight classes in Kingston. Wallace also founded Suga Knock Out Gym in 2008 and launched the ‘Gloves Over Guns’ initiative, as a means to help provide positive opportunities to the youths within the community.

Still coaching at 73, Wallace was known for his signature right-hand punch and received the alias ‘One-hand Georgie’ during his time as a boxer.

November was perhaps the busiest of months in boxing for Jamaica.

Two high-schoolers were sent to represent the island in boxing at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

While the Brazilian team, comprising seven men and six women, dominated the medal standings with 12, the young Jamaicans, Jaden Eccleston, and Saniji Williams, performed well while gaining experience and knowledge from the 179 boxers representing 27 nations at the games.

Also in November, decorated boxer Sakima Mullings obtained a Master of Science degree in sports business management from The University of the West Indies, Mona.

Mullings, a former Caribbean Boxing Federation Welterweight champion and two-time winner of the Wray and Nephew Contender series said the latest milestone had given him a greater sense of direction for when he eventually hangs up his boxing gloves.

Also in the month, the JBA successfully collaborated with the US-based Humpty Dumpty Institute, the US Embassy and Fight for Peace in organising several training sessions for amateur boxers in Denham Town, Portmore and Montego Bay.

A trainer and two accomplished female boxers made the trip from the US to Jamaica to demonstrate their skills.

The charity event, Rumble In The Sun, was also a feature in November for local boxing.

The event was highlighted by the return of former iconic heavyweights Jamaica-born Canadian Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock and American James ‘Lights Out’ Toney to the ring.

In the end, a draw was ruled, but both fighters were deserved winners on the night, especially considering that proceeds from the fight went towards Ruddock’s alma mater, Good Hope Primary School in St Catherine.

And, finally, to close off 2023, we look at the successful year in the ring for Jamaica-born, Canada-based fighter, Ricardo ‘Big 12’ Brown.

The hard-hitting boxer improved to a record of 10-0, winning all of his five fights in 2023 by knockouts.

The six-foot-seven-inch tall tall Jamaican defeated Hungarian Jozsef Darmos in December to close off a fantastic year, while declaring that he intended to fight tougher opponents in 2024.