Lawrence takes belt after stunning knockdown of Corbin

By Avenash Ramzan

Guyanese Shawn Corbin was knocked out cold and had to seek medical attention, as a solid blow to the head from Trinidadian Sheldon Lawrence put paid to his title hopes on the ‘Bad Blood’ boxing card on Saturday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Facing off in front of a massive crowd in the lone title bout of the night, Lawrence stunned Corbin with a brutal punch two minutes, 52 seconds into round 11, flooring his opponent, who had to be taken out the ring on a stretcher.

Corbin landed on the canvas, and was seemingly unconscious for a few seconds, forcing referee Eion Jardine to swiftly wave off the fight. Ringside nurse, Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase- Green, and the medical team on site were immediately summoned, and after their attempts to get Corbin back on his feet proved unsuccessful, it was decided the boxer should seek further attention at a city hospital.

The knockdown seemed almost a course Lawrence should pursue as he was behind on the judges’ card at the end of the fourth and eight rounds, although he was closing the gap with each passing round in the 12-round WBC Fecarbox Light Heavyweight title fight.

Corbin was in command of the fight during the first four rounds, with the judges scoring the contest 39-38, 40-37, 39-37 in his favour. However, Lawrence grew in confidence, finding his rhythm and landing with more frequency in the ensuing rounds. The judges had the contest 77-76, 77-76, 78-74 at the end of round eight, all in favour of Corbin.

Sensing that he needed to up the tempo, Lawrence took the fight to Corbin, being the aggressor during rounds nine and 10. However, it was round 11 that proved the most telling for Corbin as he was left sprawled on the canvas, and his title hopes on the floor.

After the fight, a visibly agitated Kwesi Jones, the reigning national Light Heavyweight title holder, signalled his intention to take on Lawrence for the belt. Jones, who last stepped in the ring in February 2013, noted that he should have been fighting the Trinidadian, given that he’s the national champion, and not Corbin.

In the main contest, Guyanese Dexter ‘De Kid’ Marques dug deep to eke out a Unanimous Decision win over Venezuelan Dionis Alberto Martinez Arias in their 10-round Flyweight bout. The judges scored the contest 98-92, 99-91, 99-91.

Marques’ compatriot Dexter ‘Cobra’ Gonsalves was completely pulverised by Felipe Barcelo of Venezuela in their 10-round lightweight contest, with the judges scoring the bout 98-90, 98-91, 98-91 in favour of the visiting boxer.

Also copping a Unanimous Decision win was USA-based Guyanese Elton ‘Coolie Bully’ Dharry, who was taken the full eight rounds by another Venezuelan, Jesus Gregorio Vargas Garcia. All three judges had the card 80-71 in favour of Dharry, who notched up his 19^th straight win.

The victory was also Dharry’s 12^th on the trot in Guyana, the first of which came in his debut fight against Mark Fernandes in 2004. 

In the opening bout, Keithland King of Barbados knocked out Guyanese Anson Green one minute, 25 seconds into round two of the scheduled four-round Junior Middleweight contest, with Green dropping to the canvas three times in round two.  

In a clash of debutants, James Moore outpunched Sherwin Clarke to win their four-round Heavyweight showdown, with the referee Franklin Brisport stopping the contest two minutes, 45 seconds into round three when Clarke landed on his knees and seemed unwilling to get back on his feet. 

The event was promoted by the Guyana Boxing Board of Control in partnership with Next Gen Global. The six-fight card certainly lived up to the hype and would no doubt give the promoters confidence as they embark on what is expected to be a busy season.