Antoine is first Regional Commonwealth title- holder

– Country prevails over City in amateur segment

By Avenash Ramzan

Referee Eon Jardine (left) and Barbados’ top promoter Sam Layne with the first Regional Commonwealth champion Miguel Antoine

Barbadian Miguel Antoine created history last Friday, February 25th, when he became the first man to lift the Regional Commonwealth title by defeating Guyanese Mark Austin by a unanimous decision in their junior welterweight clash in the February staging of “Friday Night Fights” ProAm boxing card.

Both fighters weighed in at 140lbs, but Antoine was more muscular in build and more tactical in approach, while Austin was guilty of finding himself too much against the ropes, though he surprised many in the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall by going the full 10 rounds.

To his credit, Austin did manage to fight his way out of the ropes on several occasions, but it was obvious from the onset that Antoine’s experience was going to be a decisive factor in the encounter.

Antoine, who is under the expert guidance of Barbadian top boxing promoter Sam Layne, maintained his unbeaten record, which now stretches to 14 wins with nine knockouts; while Austin slipped to his first defeat after seven bouts.

The contest started with Antoine unleashing a flurry of punches targeting the head and upper body of Austin, who found himself against the ropes early in the opening round.

However, as the bout progressed, Austin slowly regained his composure and did manage to deliver a few good punches on his opponent, but those could not suggest that he was dominating the fight.

In fact, he did well to survive after the opening round’s onslaught, and a slip to the canvas in round seven.

Austin’s best round was the eighth, when he managed to put together some powerful right jabs, but by that time Antoine had done enough to gain the judges’ nod. With the win, Antoine now has the opportunity to fight for the Commonwealth title.

Before the fight, Austin said he was going “to do my best.” Clearly, his best was not good enough, but he did walk away with his pride intact and the satisfaction that he was in supreme condition for the biggest fight of his career thus far.

In the opening fight on the professional segment of the card, Dexter Marques outclassed Hewley Robertson in a super bantamweight clash that resulted in youth prevailing over experience.

Marques, 24, exhibited nimble footwork and good aggression against his 38-year-old opponent, who hardly landed anything of substance, as the judges all scored the contest in favour of the youth.

Rudolph Fraser survived a brutal attack from Barbadian Gordiel Roberts in the opening minute of their junior lightweight contest to earn a unanimous decision win.

The energetic Roberts launched a vicious attack on his Guyanese counterpart from the opening bell, but in the process suffered a nasty cut above the right eye, which severely hampered him for the remainder of the clash.

Fraser took advantage of his rival’s misfortune and won the remaining three rounds, much to the appreciation of the partisan home crowd.

They can’t stop me! Mandessa Moses emerged with a comfortable win over Veronica Blackman

In the lone female clash, Mandessa Moses once again underlined her class with a clinical performance against Veronica Blackman, who tipped the scales at 189lbs, 65lbs more than her opponent.

The athletic Moses employed the use of the left-hand jab with great effect, consistently landing on the face of Blackman, who was totally outclassed by youth and strength.

In the amateur segment, the out-of- town gyms got the better of their city counterparts in four volcanic bouts.

Shaka Moore of the Essequibo Boxing Gym defeated Elijah Insanally of Harpy Eagles by a 3-0 decision in their 70- 74lbs clash; Benjamin Henry of Port Kaituma Gym won his bantamweight fight against Carlton La Fleur of the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym after the referee stopped the contest at two minutes, 49 seconds (2: 49s) in round two; Richard Williamson of Pocket Rocket Gym prevailed by a 2-1 decision over Imran Khan of Harpy Eagles; while in the lone all-Georgetown clash, Delroy Nero of Republican Gym got a 3-0 decision in his favour against David Thomas of Young Achievers.

All the amateur pugilists were presented with hampers, compliments of Courts (Guyana) Inc.