The Claro, Wray & Nephew Contender boxing series has received a consistent following of fans from all walks of life, and once again their insatiable appetite for an exciting fight was satisfied by Urban-Green team’s Devon Moncrieffe.

Competing for the first time professionally, the pressure was on for Moncrieffe who was pitted against Rural-Yellow team representative Lloyd Smith, whose professional boxing career holds three wins and two losses.

Once the bell ounded for the start of round one, the turn out of the fight was predicted by former Jamaica flyweight champion, Richard ‘Shrimpy’ Clarke. picked Moncrieffe to win the fight either by KO or TKO.

The fight was uncertain as Rural-Yellow team’s Smith appeared to have the upper hand with a powerful left hook. He showed signs of quality with the finesse he displayed in landing his combinations early out. However, it later became obvious that Moncrieffe was a force to be reckoned with, his shorter stature giving him an advantage in bobbing and weaving, which quickly became his trademark.

Smith became aware of the style of the evasive Moncrieffe, pre-empting his ducking with a strong uppercut in round two. However, Moncrieffe fumed with vengeance landing a powerful combination, and then pummelling Smith into the corner, who was not only saved by the bell, but also by referee Barrington Graham who had to separate the two.

When the bell sounded for the third round, it was clear that Smith was hurting, the finesse was gone and exhaustion had set in. The hopes of Rural-Yellow team of Smith’s success were dashed when the Green-Urban team’s Moncrieffe let loose later in the round, and Moncrieffe succeeded in one minute and eighteen seconds of the third round to have the fight called for a TKO against Smith.

Head Coach Carl Grant of the Urban-Green team, which now has the lead in the overall competition 4-1, said: “We are on the path, the right path. We are going to keep the ropes tight around these guys (Rural-Yellow team) for the win.”

When asked ringside what she thought about the fight, Latoy Williams, Media Manager of Claro, said she was delighted with the skill and method of Moncrieffe. “The fights get better each week,” she said. “This is an event and a production that Jamaicans have been waiting for,” Williams concluded.