‘Concrete’ too tough for Canadian Tyler Wilson
Devon “Concrete” Moncriffe floored his Team Canada counterpart Tyler Wilson at 39 seconds into the fourth round to score a technical knockout victory that handed Team Jamaica a healthy 3-1 lead in the Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum Contender Boxing Series at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium on Wednesday night.
When the end came, all three judges — Jim Monkelban (Canada), Ransford Burton (Jamaica) and Lindell Allen (Jamaica) — had Moncriffe ahead.
Moncriffe was happy to share the secret to his victory.
“It was another big body shot and two overhead rights. One thing I have to say; he is tough. To stand up to so many body shots and remain standing, he is tough. My advice to every fighter out there is never to underestimate any other fighter,” said the Jamaican.
Tylor Sands, the training partner of Wilson, when approach by the Jamaica Observer for comment, said: “Wilson is not giving any interviews. All I could say is that I thought he fought well.”
With Jamaica leading the chase 3-1 for the main Welterweight crown in the eighth edition of the Wray & Nephew Contender 15-fight series, another four fights remain before reaching the quarter-final stages.
In fight number five next Wednesday, Team Jamaica’s number three seed Michael “Wasp” Gardener will take on Jay Kelly of Team Canada.
Meanwhile, Wilson, making his professional debut, was assailed by Moncriffe from the opening bell. This had the mixed martial artist professional backing up from a series of heavy body punches aided by a couple of head shots that began to take their toll as the rounds went on.
Wilson made attempts to fight back and rocked Moncriffe with solid right-hand punches. Moncriffe, who is also a tough customer, quickly shook off the effects of the Wilson rally and continued his marauding ways by attacking the body of Wilson.
Pummelled with body shots throughout the rounds, Wilson displayed remarkable fortitude and bravely hung on. But within a few minutes into the fourth round he capitulated from another heavy body shot followed up by two stinging overhand rights to the head that put him to his knee.
But he immediately leapt to his feet.
However, referee Eion Jardine had seen enough.
Earlier, Marvin Shirley from the Oracabessa Gym lifted himself off the canvas in the second round of a three-round amateur Open Welterweight clash to score a popular unanimous points decision over Leroy Stephenson of the Stanley Couch Gym.
The action-packed rounds set the stage alight with end-to-end action that brought the action-starved audience to its feet after each round.
This bout brought far more cheers and standing ovations from the packed auditorium than did the main bout, which was largely a one-sided affair for the most part.