But Caribbean champion “Hurricane” Hugo Lewis and Latin American champion Shawn “The Heat” Garnett both sent their opponents into early retirement, but the main and co-mains lacked the anticipated spark and excitement.

The disappoint crowd had a vociferous welcome as O’Neil made her way to the ring, many expecting to see the fireworks that she delivered to wrest the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over American Kathy Rivers, after a bruising and exciting encounter at the National Park on May 29.

But Lessy kept her at bay with some vicious right jabs, aimed at the left eye that was left swollen after the historic world title clash on local soil when she became the first Guyanese to win a world title at home.

Creating history again as the first reigning local world champion to fight at home, O’Neil started the six-round bout with heavy jabs, switching to left-right combination to head. Lessy clinched then got in some solid jabs of her own.

In the second round, O’Neil walked straight into a solid straight left, but got in solid rights to head and body shots. Again in the third, Lessy stitched in jabs, clearly aiming for O’Neil left eye, but the champ countered with telling rights to head.

Lessy chose dancing at the start of the fourth round and O’Neil lunged forward to solid rights to the head, to the delight of the crowd, as Lessy rushed to hold onto O’Neil and the champ ended the round with a straight right to head.

The champ dominated the fifth round with left and right shots to head, forcing Lessy again to seek refuge by holding onto her opponent, by far her best round. In the sixth and final round, O’Neil attacked, got in some rights to head, but again Lessy was effective in keeping her at bay with the left jab.

In the second co-main event, Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) and Caribbean Boxing Association (CBA) super featherweight champion “Hurricane” Lewis punished Barbadian Selwyn Marshall from the first round with body shots when the visitor cover, and dodged the errant one, Marshall might attempt. By the second round, Marshall was holding and Lewis finished the stanza with a vicious right hook, with Marshall leaning on Lewis for support.

The punishment continued in the third round with telling body and headshots, and Marshall held on when he could. The Barbadian surprising came out for the fourth round, and Lewis again dominated the round, punched Marshall’s head as the Barbadian held onto the champ’s left hand. Marshall did not answer the bell for the fifth round, giving Lewis a technical knockout (TKO).

Earlier, World Boxing Council (WBC) Latin American and New York State Light Middleweight champion Shawn Garnett, also, scored a TKO over St Lucian Benjamin Modeste, but one round earlier.

Modeste, once a WBC Caribbean Junior Welterweight and WBC Continental Americas Lightweight champion, offered the first shots in the bout, but Garnett replied with his trademark vicious right hook. Thereafter, the Guyanese who made his first professional appearance on local soil, scored at will with both hands to body and head.