Road to Contender Series launched
Wray and Nephew launched its 2017 Contender Boxing Series with the first of three fights in the Road to Contender Series at Colonel Cove in Morant Bay, St Thomas, on Wednesday night.
The free night outdoor first fight prelude to the April 5 official opening of the seventh Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum Contender Series left quite a large and appreciative crowd worked up for some more of the “Lick ‘im Shrimpy, Lick im” after-dark fiesta.
This was not surprising. The programme was its hot and teemingly spicy self with the regular two amateur fights to open the boxing segment, and the main bout over six rounds. Added to this was a live variety stage show with giveaway packages similar in content as that offered by the promoter on fight nights at the Chinese Benevolent Association in Kingston.
And, as is the pattern at the CBA, the programme opened with two amateur bouts in the welterweIght and heavyweight categories.
The welterweight bout between Raheem Pitter of Boys’ Town and Kirk-Fitzpatrick Heron opened the card over three rounds. However, after two rounds the fight was all over as Heron was declared the winner after the fight was stopped, as Pitter looked out on his feet after series of unanswered attacks.
The second fight was a more competitive affair between Brian Sinclair and Jermaine Richards, the latter eventually using his long reach to leave the ring with a split decision.
The feature bout between two veteran fighters Anthony Osbourne from the GC Foster Gym and Patrick Miller from the Job Walters Gym over six rounds ended in victory for Miller. Even so, it was not any less exciting or competitive than would have been expected in the opening rounds of the Contender Series. They were on a mission. That in mind, both fighters went hammer and thong at each other in search of the major share of the $100,000.
Neither fighter could be faulted on the score of inactivity during the rounds and when the end came each fighter thought that he had done enough to be declared the winner. But both could not be right. Miller, who entered the ring with six wins and a four-loss record, emerged the winner by a split decision.
Meanwhile, the Road To Contender resumes tonight at Sland Village in Ocho Rios, St Ann, beginning at 7:00 pm.
