US-based 15-year-old Guyanese aiming to be among boxing greats

By Marlon Munroe
The names Cliff Anderson, Michael Parris, Lennox Blackmoore, Terrence Alli, Lennox Beckles, Patrick Ford and Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis will forever standout in Guyana’s rich boxing history.

Many contemporary fighters may not have even heard of these names, let alone know of their great  contribution to boxing.

One that they can easily identify with since a few have had fights with him is Lewis, who became Guyana’s first world champion under the Golden Arrowhead in 2006.

On the same note many contemporary boxers are looking to stake a claim for their place in history. Three come to mind: Women’s International Boxing Association Bantamweight champion Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred, world rated Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore and talented middleweight campaigner out of the USA and Australia Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen.

Shrerod Smith

Another that wants to be added to Guyana’s elite boxing fraternity is a virtual unknown, except to his peers from his old alma mater St. Gabriel’s Primary School and Tutorial High School. His name is Shrerod Smith, 15, who now resides in East Orange, New Jersey and is a member of the Fighting Jaguars boxing gym.

Smith, born January 25, 1995, is a relative of ‘Sixhead’ Lewis, and though he started last year, he  has won all three of his amateur bouts. Nervousness overcome him in his debut bout after witnessing his cousin being knocked down in the fight just before his.

He remembered his coaches telling him not to forget  what he learnt during his training and to focus on his fight. “Don’t worry about him, be smart, you can box,” were his coach’s words to him.

The real story behind his decision to get into the fight game is not a unique one: he was constantly in fights with his peers.
This is the familiar  story of many world rated fighters – past and present.

Family friend and neighbour Eion Jardine, professional referee, knew that he had the potential to become a good fighter.
That aspect of Smith’s personality also landed him in trouble in his adopted country before he made a conscious decision to fight for a more constructive purpose.
The southpaw has not been able “to get into trouble” since his day starts at 05:30 hours with a three-mile run. When he returns from his run he has to prepare for school and after school he hits the gym before retiring to the confines of his home.

Smith told Stabroek Sport that he wants to represent the country of his birth before he turns a professional boxer at the age of 19.
The clean shaven lad wants his legacy to be remembered by all Guyanese and by people around the world.
“I want to be remembered as a great fighter and I have a great future” he said confidently.

Speed and his ability to be elusive in the ring are his strengths as a boxer. His boxing icons are Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker, a southpaw also, and ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd Mayweather (in that order), two of the most elusive boxers of the contemporary fistic sport.

On his road to greatness Smith will have many hurdles to cross, his next one being the Diamond Glove tournament which starts in New Jersey on September 17.
He has been working hard for the tournament and even while he is home for the August vacation he is keeping in shape at the Sixhead Gym in Albouystown, according to Smith.

He believes that his future is a bright one since he has all the equipment and infrastructure and his coach Gregory Natson always has his best interest at heart. He also is aiming to buy his mother, Robin Netter-Smith, a house when he gains this success.