Yusuf Ali turns in superb performance
- Andrew Murray memorial boxing tournament
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
February 17, 2003
Yusuf Ali turned in a superb performance on Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and was voted `Best Under-16 Boxer’ of the Andrew Murray Memorial Boxing Tournament.
Representing Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) and fighting in the featherweight division of the under-16 category, Ali who is sponsored by Humphrey’s Bakery and Farm Products, Ketley Street, out-punched and out-boxed Young Lions’ (YL) Eon Duncan to win by a clear 3-0 majority.
Despite some exhilarating performances by members of the national squad that is currently preparing for the Pan American Box-Off and the Caribbean Championships, the 15-bout card failed to attract a crowd.
The flyweight contest between Dexter Marques (FYF) and Mark Fernandes Republican Gym (RG) was a gem and the decision could have gone to any of the two fighters. But in the end, the 2-1 decision went to Marques.
Both fighters came out trading punches and both landed solid combinations to each other’s body and head giving the judges an almost impossible task to score.
In the featherweight division (seniors), Rudolph Fraser (GDF) secured a 2-1 decision over his GDF club mate and Central American and Caribbean Games bronze medalist Paul Lewis.
The two boxers felt out each other in the opening round and though Lewis left himself open on many occasions, Fraser failed to counter-punch.
In round two, Fraser stepped up the tempo, taking the fight to Lewis who was equal to the task. Lewis, however, failed to capitalise on Fraser’s broad stance which prevented Fraser from slipping punches or getting out of the way of Lewis’ shots.
Lewis started to counter-box in round three and scored some clean shots. This pattern continued in the fourth round.
The lightweight contest between John Henry (GDF) and Horret Harris was a poor one as both fighters looked and fought like novices.
The two went at each other from the first round, but their punches were not crisp. Also, neither of them had a proper defence. In the end, Henry got the judges 2-1 decision.
In the welterweight division, Dwayne Crandon (GDF) forced the referee to stop his contest against Anson Green (YL) in the fourth round.
Crandon went to work on Green’s body and head from the start, but Green responded with some nice one-two combinations.
The pattern continued in the second round with Henry displaying more ring craft, slipping and countering extremely well. Green received an eight count in the round from a telling combination to his head.
After receiving two further eight counts in the fourth round, referee Linden Torr-ington stopped the contest.
Rayon O’Neil (GDF) and his club mate Mark Pierre went at each other from the first to fourth round in their middleweight contest, but O’Neil landed more clean telling punches than Pierre and deservedly won the contest by a 2-1 margin
The super heavyweight bout between Eusi Watkins (GDF) and Mitchell Rogers (FYF) did not come off since the referee indicated to the head table that both boxers were unshaven, which is against international rules.
In results from the under-16 competition, Dexter Jordon (FYF) defeated Carlos McPherson (YL) by a 3-0 majority, Andrew Murray Jnr (FYF), son of the late Andrew Murray, secured a 3-0 decision over Roy Franker of Harpy Eagles (HE), Edward Skeete (FYF) defeated Sherwin Young (HE) by a 3-0 majority, Clevon Park (YL) secured a 3-0 win over Jamal Cozier (HE), Simeon Hardy (FYF) forced the referee to stop his fight against Mervin Sobers (YL) at 45 seconds of the third round, Dexter Gonsalves (FYF) scored a 3-0 win over Dennis Thomas (HE) and Ray Sandford (HE) had his fight against Edmond Declou (YL) stopped at one minute 29 seconds of the second round.
