Until recently, the sport of boxing enjoyed tremendous popularity in Guyana.
There is just something about two men duking it out in the square jungle that, though bloodthirsty at times, is exciting nonetheless.
And while amateur boxing remains the only discipline to have won a medal for Guyana at the prestigious Olympic Games, through the iconic Michael Anthony Parris in Moscow, in 1980, the sport of professional boxing is a different kettle of fish altogether.
It is professional boxing that has produced some of the greatest boxers and boxing matches the world has ever seen and sad to say some of these gladiators, who have gone on to win world titles, have not been given their just due in terms of recognition.
So, beginning today Stabroek Sports will induct two boxers into their own Hall of Fame.
Today’s inductees are none other than Joe Walcott (not to be confused with `Jersey Joe’ Walcott and Dennis Andries.
There seems to be some confusion as to the place of birth of Walcott with Boxrec, claiming Mahaica, Demerara as where he was born, adding that his nationality was Barbadian and his residence, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Wikipedia and a few other sites state that he was born in Barbados, probably because of the moniker the `Barbados Demon’.
We believe BoxRec. My own sources told me that he was born in Guyana but left here on a ship to Barbados where he was to eventually reside.
There is, however, no question mark over his date of birth which is way back in 1873, on March 13, to be exact.
Welterweight boxer Walcott’s career began in 1892 against Black Pearl, a point’s decision in Philadelphia and ended in 1911 in a TKO loss to Tom Sawyer at Higgins Hall, Lowell.
He was an orthodox boxer, standing a mere five feet one and one half inches tall with a reach of 165cm but his feats in the ring endeared him to all and sundry including one Jersey Joe, who so idolized him that he chose to use his name in the ring.
Walcott, who fought some 157 bouts during his career, won the World Title on December 15, 1901, some 10 years before he was to retire.
His crowning achievement came on December 18, 1901 when he defeated Canadian Rube Ferns with a fifth round TKO in a bout scheduled for 20 rounds.
He went on to defend the welterweight title on five occasions before eventually losing the title to Honey Melody over 15 rounds on October 16, 1906.
He died on October 1, 1935 at the age of 62 and so far is the only Guyanese boxer to be elected to the Hall of Fame, which occurred in 1955.
Our second inductee is Dennis `The Hackney Rock’ Andries whose career spanned 1978 -1996.
Although Andries was born in Buxton, then British Guiana, he was to later reside in the United Kingdom, Hackney, to be precise, hence the nickname.
An orthodox fighter, he was also to win the Holy Grail of professional boxing when, on April 30, 1986, at Picketts Lock Stadium, Edmonton, he lifted the World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight title after defeating JB Williamson on points over 12 rounds.
He was to lose and win back the title on two occasions on February 21 1989 and July 28, 1990.
He won the British light heavyweight title in 1983 knocking out Keith Bristol.
At a time when landing a world title fight was a rarity, Andrews has the record of fighting the most title fights including British, British Commonwealth, European and World titles in the history of boxing, a staggering 24 including 12 British titles, one EBU title, one WBC International title, one WBC Continental Americas title and nine World title fights.
Andrews, who retired in 1997 has a career of 65 fights, winning 49, losing 14 and drawing two. He won 30 fights by knockouts and continues to live in London following his retirement from what was an illustrious career.
(Eion Jardine is an International boxing referee who has officiated in IBF and WBC world title fights)
