Blue rocks Rodgers to win heavyweight title
-survives knockdown
By Clyde Pestano
Stabroek News
December 9, 2003
GDF's Theophious Blue last Sunday night grabbed the spotlight and the heavyweight title when he outlasted Mitchell Rodgers of Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) as the curtains came down on the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) national Open, Cadet and U-15 championships at the National Gymnasium.
From the opening bell both boxers went at each other, trading power punches and connecting with some regularity. Blue was hit with a right cross from Rodgers, midway through the first round, flush on the chin but rallied well to dish out his own punishment later in the round. It was remarkable that neither boxer was knocked out in the first round after they both absorbed some telling blows.
Round two provided more fireworks as both men fought for the ascendancy with power punches again landing with telling effect. As the round progressed both began to tire but Blue seemed the more alert as he countered the wild swings of Rogers who was sucked into a brawl. At the end of the round the crowd was on its feet and persons started to encroach close to the ring area.
The opening salvoes of round three were a `cat and mouse' game as both fighters seemed to be feeling the effects and were hesitant to engage in more power punching. However, Blue took matters into his own hands midway through the round and connected to Rodgers' chin a few times. By this time the excited crowd had almost invaded ringside, obscuring the view of the judges. The fight was halted temporarily and the patrons were warned to keep away from the ring. With Blue winning rounds one, two and three, Rodgers knew he had to knock out Blue in the fourth and final round and he almost did.
In the final minute he dropped Blue with a combination of punches with a solid overhand right doing the damage. Blue hit the canvass with a thud but showed his determination when he stayed down for half of the count and then raised up from the floor looking a bit dazed. The referee allowed the fight to continue and Rodgers, sensing that he had the upper hand closed in for the kill. He again connected with some power shots to the head of Blue forcing the referee to give him a standing eight count. The fight then resumed with Rodgers, who was also exhausted and could barely stand, trying his best to knock out the winded but still competitive Blue who had regained his `wind' somewhat and managed to hold on until the final bell.
Blue who had a generous lump over his left eye spoke with Stabroek Sport after the fight and said it was all about technique. He added, "this game is not only about the physical, but also the mental." According to the heavyweight fighter when he was knocked down he did not rush to get up but used the precious seconds of the count to his benefit so that he was able to continue instead of being counted out. The fighter said that he had had some experience sparring with Rodgers before but this was the first time they had met in a fight.
Hendrick Pelswit earned the Lightweight 57 kgs title courtesy of a reversal of the judges' decision over John Henry of the GDF. The judges had declared Henry the winner causing an uproar from boxing fans who claimed that the boxer had been robbed. Some of the fans swarmed the head table and hurled insults and invectives at the GABA officials. GABA president K. Juman Yassin was forced to respond and he chided the patrons and handlers of the boxers for their objectionable behaviour while underscoring the fact that the proper thing to do was to lodge a protest with the officials. Coach of Pelswit, Donald Allison subsequently apologised to the officials and fight fans for his actions.
Yassin later announced that he had reversed the decision of judges Howard Cox and Rudolph Torrington (GABA officials) and that Pelswit was the official winner of the bout.
In other results in the U-15 division (60-64 kg) Kellon Peters (CBG) lost to Dexter Jordon (FYF), Andabo Pitamber was defeated by Troy Belley (CBG) in the 65-69 weight class, Carlton La Fleur (FYF) defeated Garfield Tappin also from FYF in the 75-79 weight class. In the 80-84 kg weight class Andrew Murray (FYF) won from Roy Franker (HE), Marvin Henry (FYF) took the 85-89 weight class from gym-mate Alex Abrams and Quacey Craig (FYF) defeated Daimee Allicock also of FYF.
In the Cadets division (Pinweight - 46 kg) category Delon Allicock (FYF) lost to Edward Skeete (HE), Marvin Sobers (YL) won by walk over from Dwayne Joseph (HE) to take the Light flyweight - 48kg crown, Boigny Miggins (FYF) beat Earl Sobers (RIC) for the Flyweight title, Dexter Gonsalves (FYF) won the Bantamweight 54kg title when his opponent Quacey Miller (CBG) was disqualified, Delbert Griffith (CBG) was defeated by Roy Sandiford (HE) who took the Featherweight 57kg title while in the Lightweight 60 kg division Joel Mc Rae (HE) lost to Randy Tello (YL).
In the open division, the Flyweight title (51 kg) was won by Dexter Marques (FYF) from Mark Fernandes (REP). Paul Lewis (GDF) took the 57 kg Featherweight crown from gym-mate Rudolph Fraser, Iwan Azore (REP) defeated Mark Solomon also of REP, to take the 64kg Junior welterweight title, Markember Pierre (GDF) upset Rayon O'Neil also of the GDF to win the 75 kg Middleweight title while Gordon Ross (GDF) took home the 81 kg Light Heavyweight title beating James Walcott (HE).
The most improved boxer trophy was won by Carlton La Fleur (FYF) while Paul Lewis of the GDF won best boxer award.
The GDF was the best gym with 12 points while the best coach award went to Lennox Daniels of the GDF.