An excellent defence that is devoid of attack has disastrous consequences for any athlete in a dynamic sport as boxing.

Camion Goldson, the aspiring Jamaican boxer, came face to face with that stark reality on his professional debut after surrendering a unanimous points decision to fellow debutant boxer Rashid ‘Boogie Man’ Stevens in the Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum Contender Boxing Series at the Chinese Benevolent Association Auditorium on Wednesday night.

It was a night of inaction by Goldson and when ring announcer Oliver Hardie made the announcement at the end of five rounds, it was a most conclusive decision. Ringside judges Lindel Allen, Peter Richards and Howard Nelson gave the fight to Stevens, the more active fighter. Allen and Reid saw it 49-46, and Nelson 50-45.

The fight was the penultimate of eight in the preliminary rounds of the 16-fight Wray & Nephew Contender Series, contested between Team Caribbean and Team USA in which the winner will pocket J$2 million.

Despite Wednesday night’s loss, Team Caribbean still holds a substantive 5-2 lead over Team USA at the completion of seven preliminary fights.

Goldson started fairly confidently in the first two rounds and let off a few powerful body shots, but the Central Kingston native only flattered to deceive. He clammed up after that while Stevens went on to pick his spots without becoming careless, fearing that Goldson had something up his sleeves and was sparring for the knockout punch which never came and for all one knows is still in utero.

Still in a bit of a daze as to how he lost the fight by throwing less than half-a-dozen punches, Goldson said that he was very disappointed with his performance, “one that I had prepared for so much. My gloves felt tighter than they usually do and my shoulders failed to loosen up. I felt good all through the fight but just could not get my shoulders going.”

Had Goldson been more active in the fight the decision would have been less predictable as he at no time in the fight looked outclassed. He just appeared frozen.

Well pleased with his professional debut performance, Stevens said: “I did not enter the fight with a definite plan. I went into the fight with an open mind and adjusted to my opponent’s approach as we went along. It was not a difficult fight and I just did what I had to do and got the decision.”

The Boogie Man added: “I think that I have what it takes to go on to win the Contender. I heard that ‘Sub-Zero’ (Ramel Lewis) is quite a good fighter and I think I will like to test my ability against his next, if possible.”