Contender scores for boxing again

Saturday, February 18, 2012

THE visual evidence appears to suggest that Mr Courtney Simister, the losing boxer in the opening bout of the Wray & Nephew Contender Boxing Series at the Chinese Benevolent Association on Wednesday night, has a point when he suggests the contest was marred by unpunished technical fouls.

Those of us watching on television would have seen at least one case of sustained rabbit punching (punches to the rear of the neck and upper back) which, in boxing, is illegal and should be penalised.

It's an aspect to which organisers and fight officials will no doubt be paying keen attention going forward. Amidst the dazzle of what is essentially a television production, it is also imperative that the standards of the sport of boxing be upheld.

However, we can't help but suspect that Mr Simister -- who we are told has spent a few years away from the sport -- was below par in terms of fitness and ultimately paid the price. Certainly, he appeared to have no answer to Mr Dwayne Holmes' calculated body assault, resulting in the fight -- which was scheduled for six rounds -- ending in just one.

But while the fight itself may have been anti-climactic for those of us watching, the event once again demonstrated the power of television and its absolute importance to the sustainability of modern sport.

Last year, the inaugural Contender Series, which was then focused on middleweights, captured the imagination of the Jamaican television audience not just with the standard of boxing -- which improved as the competition progressed -- but with the quality of production. In terms of reality television, last year's series was perhaps bested only by the extraordinary Dudus/Manatt Enquiry for sheer popularity.

These are tough times economically, so for brand sponsors Wray & Nephew to be back on board this season suggests a level of satisfaction with the promotional value gained last year.

For the fighters, the biggest incentive is perhaps the promise of exposure, though the cash prizes can by no means be discounted. As we understand it, the eventual winner after seven weeks of competition will carry home $1 million, with second, third and fourth place sharing another million dollars.

Happiest perhaps are the executive members of the Jamaica Boxing Board led by president Mr Stephen Jones. Those of us who are old enough recall the 1950s and '60s when boxing gyms, in Kingston in particular, were abuzz with action -- producing such high quality fighters as Messrs Bunny Grant and Percy Hayles, and in the 1970s/80s the incomparable Mr Mike McCallum and Messrs Trevor Berbick and Richard 'Shrimpy' Clarke.

In more recent years, Mr Jones' predecessors will have seen Jamaican boxing come pretty close to death's door before this latter-day, television-induced resuscitation.

Credit is due to all those who have had a hand in this initiative. It is incumbent on them to ensure that Jamaican boxing benefits in as sustainable a manner as is possible.

Also, other sporting associations, now struggling to cope with the challenges of today's world should watch closely and learn.

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Contender scores for boxing again