Caribbean boxing champ takes aim at Paris Olympics
Published:Sunday | December 25, 2022 | 1:20 AMOrane Buchanan - Staff Reporter
FOLLOWING HER gold-medal-winning performance at the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Caribbean Championships in Roseau, Dominica, Sherikee Moore, one of Jamaica’s leading young female boxers, revealed that her attention will now be shifted to the upcoming national trials in January, while also keeping an eye on the next Olympic Games in Paris, 2024.
“Well, I’m looking forward to nationals (trials) in January and also looking forward to compete at the Olympics in 2024,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.
Moore, who trains locally at the Jamaica Defence Force Boxing Gymnasium, said her dominant showing in the nature isle of Dominica was on account of intense preparation leading into the championship.
“The training was very hard because I had to lose weight to make the weight class. So I had to be doing a lot of training, three times for the day, running in the mornings for, like, a whole hour and then back into training again,” said Moore.
The intense pre-fight training sessions paid off mightily as Moore totally obliterated Tiffany Delice, her Barbadian opponent in the featherweight final, bringing the encounter to a conclusion in 70 seconds.
Moore is hopeful that her performances for Jamaica will lend themselves to attracting other women to the sport of boxing.
MALE DOMINATED
“I would love for more females to join the sport. That would be very good. I think the sport is more male dominated, and I would love for more boxing events to take place in Jamaica.”
The 2022 AMBC featherweight Caribbean Championships gold medallist also thinks that the onus could be on her to help develop female boxing in the country.
“I think I can do more by winning all my fights and motivate other females to come and join. That’s the best I can do. I will continue training and keep motivating others,” she said.
The very talented Moore also labelled two-time Olympic gold medallist, American Clarissa Shields, her favourite boxer.
“She has great confidence. Her fighting skills are perfect and I love it. She has great technique along with great movement.”
Jamaica ended the Caribbean Championship, held last weekend, with four gold medals and one silver.
Jerone Ennis beat Amor Payne of Antigua after the referee stopped the contest 43 seconds into the third round, while Daniel Hylton lost on points to Joshua Toussaint of Dominica.
Jasmine Graham was named outstanding female Novice boxer after she defeated Faith Field of Barbados. That fight was stopped two minutes and 14 seconds into the first round. In the cruiserweight division, Jaden Eccleston defeated Keith Demanyoh from Martinique on points to top that division.
Jamaica finished the championsip fourth on the medal table behind Barbados, Dominica, and the US Virgin Islands.