New dawn for local boxing

The Wray & Nephew/Jamaica Boxing Board (JBB) fight nights, which start off with seven amateur bouts and one professional card at the Cling Cling Oval on Saturday July 1, will represent a new dawn in local boxing, says Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones, president of the Jamaica Boxing Board.

Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, Jones said the Wray & Nephew Fight Nights, which are scheduled to run over eight months with fights very six weeks, will be completely different from the Contender series’ format, where boxers were eliminated after each round until there was an eventual champion.

Fight nights will not be an elimination series. Boxers will be allowed to fight multiple fights against local and overseas opponents in order to build their records and reputations, and Jones believes the showpiece will develop local champions and create a boxing hub and platform for aspiring boxers in the region, the diaspora and even internationally.

“It is a platform that has never been here before. It’s not a competition. It’s a hub for boxing because we want Jamaica to be a hub for international boxing. Now that we are doing boxing here, we will have local promoters and overseas promoters looking at our talent and willing to match them with fighters so they can build their records,” Jones pointed out.

He noted that many overseas promoters have requested to be a part of the event and now that it is launched they will bring their boxers, which will create a bigger and better pool for local boxers to test their skills.

Professional fights will start out with four rounds, with winners receiving US$150 per round. However, after four or five wins, a fighter’s rounds will increase to six and with 10 or more wins, the rounds will increase to eight, for which they will collect US$250 per round for a win.

BUILD A VALUABLE RECORD

“When they start winning and getting more attractive and they reach eight rounds they will get US$250 a round. This is standard but the most important thing is to build a career because the most valuable thing a pro boxer has is his record” he said.

An outstanding record can also lead to title fights as well, Jones disclosed. “When they get to 8-0 the World Boxing Association (WBA) says they will allow them to fight for the Fedecaribe title and if they get to 14-0 or even 12-2, you can fight for the Fedelatin title and can rank up top 15 in the world in the WBA. Every fight after that leads to a world title,” he said.

Also there are no limits to where fighters can come from, he said.

“It can be from the diaspora, the Caribbean. The Caribbean boxers turning pro do not have a platform, so they can use this platform. They don’t have to fight Jamaican boxers, they can just have the platform and get opportunities to fight. It will be set-up like a Las Vegas style fights, so it’s for the promoters to bring in the boxers.”

Jones is hoping sponsor Wray & Nephew will stay on board for at least three years but said they are still in discussions regarding the length of the sponsorship. However, Wray & Nephew Marketing Manager Pavel Smith said they are planning to stay long term.

“This will not be just a one-stint wonder. We will be touring across Jamaica and bringing fight nights to the people. We are going to take this through the rest of the year into 2024 and this is something we expect to continue throughout the years and build boxing in Jamaica,” he said.

“Boxing is a part of our culture and we saw it fitting to partner with the Jamaica Boxing Board to bring fight nights to the people. It provides the youths in the communities with opportunities to showcase themselves locally and on the international stage. So you can stay right here in Jamaica and have a professional title fight and become a champion and that is what we love about this competition.”

Promoter Chris Joy said it’s a chance for local boxers to dream big again and train with a purpose.

“We want a Jamaican champion who has most of his fights here. You don’t have to go overseas to be a world champion. You just have to be good. When you are good people will follow you and those are the same people that will make you great,” he stated.

On the opening night Jerome ‘Breezy’ Richard take on Omar ‘Crane’ Edmund in a heavyweight contest, the lone professional bout on the card. The amateur card will see Chevon ‘Rage’ Gordon against Kevon McKenzie, Kirk Clarke faces Akeem ‘Dream’ Mignott, Kimarley ‘LG’ Marley opposes Delano ‘Macka’ McLaughlin, Vinroy Coke take on Ian Flemming, Jahmari ‘Wata Man’ Frazer goes up against David ‘Dancing Bomber’ Barnaby, Calvin Mignott fights Joshua Kidd and Juzier ‘Iron Man’ Heron battles Darron ‘Avatar’ Weir. The first fight is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.