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Boxing boss hopes to attract big names to Fight Nights

Published:Wednesday | June 28, 2023 | 1:39 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
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Ricardo Brown
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Ricardo Brown
Jamaica Boxing Board directors David Clarke (left) and Stephen Jones (right) joined J. Wray & Nephew’s Marketing Manager Pavel Smith to sign off on a sponsorship deal to stage an eight-month boxing series for amateur and professional boxers dubbed Fight
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Jamaica Boxing Board directors David Clarke (left) and Stephen Jones (right) joined J. Wray & Nephew’s Marketing Manager Pavel Smith to sign off on a sponsorship deal to stage an eight-month boxing series for amateur and professional boxers dubbed Fight Night.
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THE RECENTLY launched Wray & Nephew Fight Nights boxing series is expected to attract professional fighters from across the boxing world, and Jamaica Boxing Board (JBB) president Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones is hoping highly rated heavyweight, Ricardo ‘Big 12’ Brown, is one of those that will use the platform as it becomes more established.

Brown, a former Jamaican Olympian, has had a very promising start to his professional career, with an 8-0 record, and though the Wray & Nephew Fight Nights is in its infancy, Jones is hoping that over time, international fighters like Brown can see the platform as a means of furthering their careers.

“It’s when the serious part starts and people start to see what is happening. Then people like Big 12, who is in Canada, when he comes down, he can use this platform just the same as any other platform. So people will understand that this is not a competition but a platform to launch from,” he said.

However, he pointed that the series will be especially beneficial to boxers transitioning from amateur to professional and for those just looking to make a profession of boxing.

“We already have very active boxers. So the best pros are going to be there, as well as the best amateurs that we have.

“Remember Big 12 stayed amateur until he went to the Olympics and then turned pro, and we have a team of boxers who are currently in El Salvador for the CAC games, who are very talented and they will continue their journey to see if they can get to the Olympic Games.

“However, those that get there (Olympics) will then look to turn pro. We also have boxers who are no longer trying to get to the Olympics but who are now turning pros from elite amateurs and this platform will keep them engaged and can help build their records,” he said.

WORLD BOXING CHAMPION

Jones noted that the last World boxing champion Jamaica had was Nicholas ‘Axeman’ Walters, who won the vacant WBA World Featherweight title in 2012.

However, he believes the span between local fighters winning world titles is too far apart and that this also affects the appeal of the sport locally.

“We have a World champion once every decade and that is too far apart because everybody has to go overseas. When we do it here, like this, after three years we will have somebody who will have a shot at a title and once we have boxers who have a shot at a title, boxing will continue to strive in Jamaica,” said Brown.

The Wray & Nephew Fight Nights begin this Saturday at the Cling, Cling Oval, with an eight-fight card, starting at 6 p.m.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com