‘Desert Storm’ puts the brake on ‘Truck’ Tucker
Team Canada’s Tariq “Desert Storm” Ismail swept to victory over Team Jamaica’s Fabian “Truck” Tucker with a split decision in the final preliminary fight, to go into the quarter-final stages with four wins apiece in the Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum Contender boxing series at Chinese Benevolent Association on Wednesday night.
Judges Ransford Burton and Eion Jardine scored the bout 48-47 and 49-46, respectively, for Ismail, while judge Laurence Neufville saw it 49-46 for Tucker.
The final result has helped Ismail maintain his 100 per cent win record of two wins from as many fights, while local boy Tucker is yet to get off the mark from four bouts, with three losses and a draw.
Ismail has now set himself up for a quarter-final showdown against two-time Contender finalist Richard “Frog” Holmes, the tournament’s number one seed.
The Canadian boxer has earned the right to further his quest for a chance at taking a slice of the $3-million purse, of which the winner will get $2 million. The runner-up will receive $500,000, the third-place winner will walk away with $250,000, and the fourth-place winner will receive $200,000.
Wednesday night’s boutlacked action as the Canadian was more content to hold onto his opponent rather than throw blows. It was probably a good ploy by Ismail against the “Truck” Tucker, who looked menacing. And probably being a tad heavier, Ismail did not want to get hit so the safest measure to apply was to close down the heavierfighter before he could find the space to explode.
Even so, Tucker, who gave a good display, seemed to run out of steam and gave it all away in the fourth round when he just stood there and absorbed punches, and appeared to be waiting for a chance to deliver a knockout punch — but Ismail was having none of it.
It was not a performance characteristic of Desert Storm, but as he said at his post-fight interview, “Sometimes things happen”.
“It was not my best performance but I take my hat off to Tucker, (as) he came out strong. I do not want to make too many excuses, but let us keep it at that. I’m ready for the next opponent,” said Ismail.
The Team canada boxer said part of his plan was to “weather the storm”.
“In my approach, I should have been a little busier on the inside… I waited a little too much for him (and) I stayed a little too long on the outside. I will correct those mistakes (and) I am looking forward to coming back to Jamaica shortly, and you can expect an improved performance,” Ismail promised.
Tucker said he was satisfied with aspects of his fight and thought he deserved at least a draw.
“I thought that I gave (a good) account of myself (and) I was looking for a draw. But I said to myself ‘he is the best man’, so I leave it at that and accept the decision,” Tucker said.
In the two amateur undercards, Ricardo Brown of GC Foster Gym outpointed Frank McKenzie of the JDF Gym over three rounds in a super heavyweight clash, while in the battle of the lightweights, Ricardo Carter of Dreamsport Gym forced Samuel Grant of Suger Olympic Gym into submission at 1:56 minutes of the second round for victory.