Watched by a packed auditorium including the top executives of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) and the GDF top brass, the Special Forces stormed their way to the title with four wins and two runner-up places out of the 10 finals staged on that night.
Air Corps occupied the second spot with 14 points followed by Base Camp Stephenson 13, Engineer Battalion four, Defence Headquarters four and Infantry Battalion on two points.
Private (21620) A. Rockcliffe of Infantry Battalion, overcame a swollen left eye and the awkwardness of 21830 Private R. Gordon of Air Corps to battle his way to the best boxer title. Fighting in the welterweight division, Gordon had Rockcliffe in all sorts of trouble from the first gong but the latter turned the tide on him in round two.
Using a solid left jab and a straight right to keep the advancing Gordon bamboozled, the champion boxer did not allow the Air Corps Private to land his big powerful haymakers.
Round two ended with Private Gordon looking tired and very confused as the large crowd in attendance exploded with laughter at his antics walking back to the blue corner.
In the third and final round it was war as soon as the bell sounded with Rockcliffe attacking the brave and resilient Gordon mercilessly with head and body shots despite sporting a badly swollen and partially closed left eye.
The Air Corps Private Gordon, again provided much of the entertainment in the final round but had no answer for Rockcliffe’s two fisted attack as the latter pounded his way to a 3-0 victory. Then 21944 Private S. Primo of Infantry Battalion brought the curtain down on the finals with a sound thrashing of his senior 20944 Lance Corporal K. Emmanuel also of Infantry Battalion in a heavyweight contest.
The encounter had most of the people in attendance cringing as Primo, fighting in an orthodox stance, seemed to have no respect for either the powerful build or the rank of the senior officer, Lance Corporal Emmanuel, who was fighting in a southpaw stance. Primo floored Emmanuel with a well-timed right hook to the body which was administered by referee Dexter Patterson.
A few seconds later it seemed like déjà vu as the referee had to start all over again as the Private landed a right hand flush on the face of the Lance Corporal.
The senior army rank received another count before the referee finally stopped the contest.
In other results; Jr. Flyweight 21728 Private D. Fraser (Special Forces Squadron) beat 21415 Private S. Gills (Engineer Battalion), Flyweight 21723 Private N. Fredericks (SF Squadron) beat 21416 Private G. Yaw (Air Corps), Bantamweight 21247 Private M. Marshall (Base Camp Stephenson) beat 21141 Private R. Luke (BCS), Featherweight 21452 Private G. Williams (Engr. Bn.) beat 21732 Private G. Thompson of (SF Sqn.), Lightweight 21452 Private K. Lowe (SF Sqn.) beat 21690 Private A. Scott (Air Corps), Jr. Welterweight 21176 Private K. Gentle (BC S.) beat 21787 Private C. Thomas (Air Corps), Middleweight 21626 Private L. Watson (SF Sqn.) beat 21741 Private K. Chase (SF Sqn.) and Light Heavyweight 21538 Private R. Sandy (Defence Headquarters) beat 21234 Private T. Thomas (DHQ). Best coach – Sergeant A. Gillis.
The GDF has already started to aim its guns in the direction of improving the standard of boxing to meet the quality of old.
According to Colonel Bruce Lovell, who sat at ringside and watched all the fights, boxing in the army had some setbacks due to the “operational tempo”, but now that the crime situation is relatively stable, the GDF will input much more time, energy and resources to elevate the standard.
Colonel Lovell also expressed satisfaction with the performances of the boxers in the finals.
And, in an invited comment, President of GABA Steve Ninvalle said he was happy to see the GDF Auditorium packed to capacity since in recent times amateur boxing had lacked such support.
He opined that the fortunes were changing for the sport and said he was looking forward to the Joint Services once again playing a lead role in amateur boxing.
According to the GABA head, a letter has already been dispatched to the Commissioner of Police Henry Greene in an effort to revitalize boxing in the police force.
“The joint services were the feeding ground of amateur boxing and their boxers are much more disciplined,” stated Ninvalle.
