Howard wins CBF title
Stabroek News
June 30, 2002
National lightweight champion Richard Howard created history when he became the first Guyanese to fight for and win a World Boxing Council/Caribbean Boxing Federation title.
The 30-year-old Howard TKOed St. Lucian Benjamin Modeste in the second round of the scheduled 12-rounder at the Sir Garfield Sobers Complex in Barbados Friday evening to win the vacant CBF super lightweight (junior welterweight) title.
Howard, who returned home yesterday said that the victory was sweet revenge since Modeste had defeated him on points in 1997 in a fight he took with one week’s notice.
"I dropped him with a right hand and a left hook and the fight was over," the newly crowned champion said. The fight was Howard’s second for the year. In May he decisioned Learie Bruce of Trinidad at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Success seem to be following the Howard family as just over a week ago Howard’s elder brother Vincent, the national featherweight champion secured a victory in Canada.
The younger Howard declared that he will continue to compete as a lightweight and super lightweight since he had no problem in making the 135-pound lightweight limit. With the recent victory his record improved to 11-4-7. (Steve Ninvalle)