Jamaica amateur boxing made a bold statement that it is on target for World Championship Box-Off success in another two weeks or so with a stunning but confident 3-1 win over Panama in an international friendly Pro-Am six-fight card at the Barbican Beach Complex on Saturday night.The four-fight amateur card between the two countries was conducted over four three- rounders of three minutes duration and Panama, one of the rulers of the sport in the region, opened briskly by drawing first blood.
Johnathan Miniel wasted little time in putting away Marvin Shea, in the opening bout of two lightweight contests, with a unanimous decision.
Jamaica, however, took control of the next three bouts. They started off when Sanjay Williams levelled things with a unanimous victory decision over Leonel Gutterrez in the second lightweight match.
Janathan Hanson then impressed by outscoring Luis Hernandez to come away with another healthy, unanimous decision to take the competitive middleweight division.
In the super heavyweight division, Jamaica’s Ricardo Brown fought gallantly against Ronaldo Bennett to reward Jamaica with their third unanimous decision win, for an overall 3-1 victory to send the country’s amateur contingent off to the World Championship Box-Off in Honduras next month with anticipation.
“This is a great morale booster for the Jamaica Team going into the World Championship Box-Off in the next two weeks. To score such a commanding win against Panama, a country that leads the region in amateur boxing, is saying a lot for Jamaica’s amateur boxing, considering that we in Jamaica have to work and train while those guys in Panama live in the gym and are properly fed,” says National Coach Gilberr Vaz.
“We in Jamaica need assistance with better equipment and improved facilities that could help to improve our boxing skills. We have the material (but) what we need is help to move it forward,” he added.
— Hurbun Williams
