Boxing successfully returns to Bird’s Isle
Good evening I’m James Adderley and we certainly want you to partake of this clubbing version of Sports Monday. The fight world in Belize has literally been in chaos over the past two years, not unlike semi-pro basketball, a victim of inertia at the very top. However, the boxing community was able to put a card together and it was a good thing.
We go to the island where the card opens to a hundred and ten pound match-up between stable-mates Steve McFoy and Rayford Smith. It’s McFoy on the attack dishing out enough punishment through three rounds to earn a unanimous victory.
In the next bout, George Valencio is the taller fighter and he lands the first telling blow forcing Harrison Smith to unleash his total fury. This one could probably be described as the most competitive match-up of the day. And while we thought Valencio had won, Smith got the split decision from the judges in a fight that could have gone either way.
Meanwhile folks Mark Pelayo on the receiving end of this flurry, was simply overmatched in his amateur debut against Raymond Andrews, who forces referee Palacio to intervene and halt the hostilities, giving Andrews the win on a TKO.
This brought up the international match-ups when Harry Zelaya stepped up at one hundred and twenty-four pounds to defend the jewel against Othoniel Espinoza of Mexico. Unfortunately, while Harry was game he was absolutely overmatched. He raises the match to the next level, but he pays the maximum price as Espinoza picks apart, and we mean literally, forcing a cessation and grabbing the win on a TKO. And yes, you’re looking at the end of this match for Henry.
That result must have given one hundred and thirty pound Joseph Eagan more focus because in his battle with Mexican Froyland Mendez, a minute into the first round, he tags Mendez with this straight right for the first knockdown of the match.
He then follows it up with a barrage of lefts and rights, eventually forcing the second knockdown in round one. However, Mendez would weather the storm, but it would not prevent Joseph Eagan from posting the unanimous victory in an exciting performance.
So we came to the professional debut of Horace Cadle, who makes his grand entrance in big time style to Shyne’s “Bad Boy”.
His opponent Alonzo Garcia had to give up five pounds, but after turbulent negotiations with President George Hyde of the Belize Boxing Board of Control, the fight was allowed. Nevertheless, Garcia is a game fighter with serious defensive skills as he demonstrated here.
For most fans it looks like a matter of time before the knockout comes for Horace, but Garcia has skills. While the outcome was never in question, Horace Cadle had to settle for the unanimous decision through four rounds in his first outing.
James Adderley
“You got the nod from all three judges, but somehow, do you think the size of the Mexican gave you a bit of problem today?”
Horace Cadle, Champion, Belize
“He didn’t give me any problem, I just did what my trainer told me: take my time because it was my first fight, the next fight we’ll do better.”
James Adderley
“Were you able to deal out the punishment you had intended coming into this fight?”
Horace Cadle
“Yes.”
James Adderley
“Was there anytime in this fight that you had to dig deeper and take care of business?”
Horace Cadle
“Well one spell I see the Mexican coming a little hard, so I thought I’d have to haul out something. The coach told me to throw two jabs to his head and turn up the right hook. So I turned it up and pulled out the W.”
Turning to the BFL football scene, Kulture Yabra burned Sagitun 1-zip at Independence. Real Verdes jumped Juventus 2-1; Builders Bandits bombed Yabra Dolphins 2-nil. Griga Tropical used the home field advantage to edged Caye Caulker 1-nil, while Lazio Jumex and Metro Stars met at the Recalde Stadium and battled to a 1-1 draw. Out west, Jube Santa Elena forced Acros into settling for a 1-all stalemate.
In Belize’s Youth Soccer League play yesterday at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex, Grassroots defaulted to Ajax Paradise and Berger Stars hurt Raptors 1-nil in Under-13 play. Raptors beat Ajax 6-zip, while Brown Bombers mashed Berger Stars 3-1 at Under-15. At Under-17, Brown Bombers downed Cadet Corps 5-2.
