Cayman, Jamaica in mega boxing showdown at Barbican Beach

BY LIVINGSTON SCOTT Observer staff reporter

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Eight Cayman boxers were scheduled to arrive in the island last evening at the Norman Manley International Airport for a fight card which will showcase boxers from Jamaica and Cayman going up against each other this evening at the Barbican Beach beginning at 7:00 pm.

Headlining the eight-bout card will be a six-round pro fight between locals Devon 'Concrete' Moncrieffe and Lloyd 'the Punisher' Smith.

Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC) president Stephen 'Bomber' Jones says he's anticipating a close and keenly contested fight between the two locals.

"I watched both boxers train and I can tell it's going to be an exciting fight from the moment the bell rings. They both have a lot to prove to themselves, so you can count on this being a very entertaining fight," he said.

The weigh-in for the bout is scheduled for the Stanley Couch Gym in Kingston at 9:30 am this morning.

The eight-match fight card will comprise boxers of all classes, from the Flyweight to Super Heavyweight division, and according to Jones, both Jamaica and Cayman are looking forward to the match-ups as they gear up for Olympics and World Championship qualification.

Today's card will also feature one female bout between Felice Groves of Jamaica and Cayman's Jessica Richards in the Light Feather weight category in a four-round bout.

Jones said this is a fight that he is keen to witness, as Groves is eager to show her skills and talent to the Jamaican public and qualify for one of the world tournaments.

"Groves has been hungry and training and wants a chance to represent Jamaica at the World Championships and the Olympic qualifiers... she will go up against her compatriot who is also going to the Olympic qualifiers, so that will be an exciting match," he said.

In other key bouts, is the Flyweight bout between Bruising Gym's Shavon Lindo and Diego Rodriquez and the Bantamweight showdown between Boys' Town's Andre Grey and Raymond Rodriquez.

Olympic/Sugar Gym's Shane Lindsay will then face-off against Tafari Ebanks for the Super Bantam honours, G4S's Toriano Nicholas will fight Kendal Ebanks for the Lightweight crown and Stanley Couches' Catoney Robinson will match gloves with Thomas McField Brown for the Middleweight title.

Meanwhile, G4S's Jonathan Hanson, the Open Class Light Heavyweight national champion, who will be going to Olympics trials in Brazil in May, will do battle with Dariel Ebanks, while Hanson's gym-mate Richard Walker will face off against Gina Brown for Super Heavyweight honours.