‘Boxing on the Roof’ hopes to spark interest in youth

Promoters of the recently staged 'Boxing on the Roof', are hoping to inject some impetus into the sport at the amateur level.

Chris Joy, co-promoter and head of the local boxing outfit 'I-Fight', last Saturday told STAR Sports that the event was structured to facilitate inter gym competitions to allow amateurs more chances to interact with different styles of fighting.

He believes this will better prepare local fighters for making the transition to professional boxing, while lifting the entertainment value of local boxing.

"Boxers locally often complain that they do not get sufficient sparring sessions," Joy said. "I funded a programme which brings all the boxers together to spar and work on their craft. You cannot be good and not spar, you cannot wait for a fight to train."

The event, hosted at Dunn's Electrical on Red Hills Road, featured three amateur bouts, one exhibition matchup and a professional fight between Kevin 'Buss Boy' Hylton and Toriano Nicholas. The highlight of the amateurs came from the Canadian-based junior welterweight Trevor Thonson fighting for 'The Bruising Gym'. He scored a second-round knockdown on his way to a convincing victory over the much taller Damion Williams representing the Jamaica Defence Force

The main event was evenly matched, both fighters landing throughout, but neither fighter were able to hurt his opponent. The judges unanimously awarded Hylton, the busier fighter of the two, the victory at the end of six rounds of a bout that was somewhat anti-climatic to the competitive standard set by the amateurs.

Co-promoter and head of 'The Bruising Gym', Carl Grant echoed similar sentiments stating that the event was geared at giving the amateurs more ring time. He said he was looking to incorporate more local gyms vowing that this was the first of a series of events of its kind.

"We are looking at making this a multi-parish event. Every competitor walked away with a prize, we are looking to encourage our young boxers, assist with gear where possible, and we want to take this islandwide," he said.