Promising performances from amateur fighters, welterweight Kestna Davis and middleweight Michael Gardner from the Bruising Gym have enhanced their chances of representing Jamaica at the Pan-Am Games Box-off in Tijuana, Mexico, from June 2-9 next year.

They excited at the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC) Pan-American Games Box-off following victories against three very capable Canadian-based Jamaica competitors at the at Stanley Couch Gym on Saturday night.

Switzerland-based Jamaican Sara Joy Rae has had a straight entry into the Pan-Am Games in Toronto, Canada, next year after failing to get even an exhibition bout against a local counterpart.

Rae, an accomplished boxer, and national representative for Jamaica, was scheduled to meet with Felicia Grove in an exhibition bout, but the local boxer who boxes out of Bruising Gym, failed to make the required weight of 51.0kg and the exhibition had to scuttled.

There are only three weight classes in boxing for women at the Pan-Am Games, the Commonwealth and the Olympics — 51.0kg tops, 60.0kg and 75.0kg. Grove, who normally fights at 56.0kg, had to come down to 51.0kg but just could not make the weight which left Rae as an automatic choice.

“Rae has already represented Jamaica at the World Championships and came within one point of medalling. Rae is therefore seen as having a very good chance of qualifying to go to the Pan-American Games that are taking place in July in Toronto, Canada,” stated JBBA general secretary Leroy Brown.

Southpaw Davis, 20, defeated Canadian-born Jamaican Aljermaine Burnett by disqualification in the third fight of the preliminaries 2-1 over the three-round eliminator. In the third preliminary round fight for the night, Gardner, 21, tagged England-born Canadian-prepared Ryan Robinson by a similar 2-1 margin of victory.

Robinson, 19, who is being mentored and sponsored by Lennox Lewis, was born in England of Jamaica parentage.

Davis fought two Canadians. He first took care of Burnett in the third fight on the card, when he won the fist two rounds.

However, in the third and final round, the Canadian seemed went against the rules committing a number fouls for which he was warmed.

But he never heeded the warning and was later disqualified by the referee to present Davis with a 3-0 triumph.

Michael Gardner (left) and Kestna Davis outshone their Canadian counterparts to win the heart of the selectors with powerful performances at the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control Pan-Am Box-off at Stanley Couch Gym on Saturday last.

(PHOTO: HURBUN WILLIAMS)