Fight night

By Guy Harrison, guy@cfp.ky

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Fans who bought tickets to Saturday night’s boxing event at the Lions Center were hoping to witness Caymanian sports history in the making. Thanks to Charles Whittaker’s fourth–round knockout of American Billy Lyell, they got their money’s worth. Whittaker delivered on a bold promise he made many years ago by winning the vacant NBA Jr. Middleweight World Championship. His electrifying performance before a full house of screaming supporters is assured a lasting place in local sports lore.

Cayman’s Charles Whittaker celebrates capturing a world boxing title. Photo: Guy P. Harrison

Whittaker’s trainer, Norman Wilson, says the accomplishment is a big step toward boxing’s bigtime. At 32 years of age, the clock is ticking on Whittaker’s career and it remains to be seen if he can continue to go where no Caymanian has gone before. It still will be tough for him to claw his way into the top–ten of the more established boxing rankings, and land fights against stars. One thing is certain, however, after Saturday’s performance, more people than ever believe in the West Bay slugger.

Wilson has served as Whittaker’s trainer for five years. Whittaker’s manager is Raul Alvarez. They are based in Miami.

A local champ’s triumph was not the whole story Saturday night, as other bouts provided fans with plenty of fireworks as well. First up were a couple of fine amateur exhibitions by local and regional fighters. Eric McField got the best of Teneson Biaz by one point in a three–rounder referred by Caymanian Donie Anglin. Caymanian powerhouse Troy O’Neil went to war against Chris Williams of Jamaica. It was close but O’Neil won. Michael Peart, a former top Cayman Islansds boxer, was the referee.

The bout between Mario Galan of Florida and Brent Skyler, also from Florida, fizzled just 2:41 into the first round and was called a “no contest” after a vicious gash above Skyler’s right eye was deemed too deep to let the fight continue. Referee Anglin determined that Galan had accidentally headbutted Skyler, thus the “no contest” ruling.

Johnny “Live Wire” Walker, of Florida, and Edwin Algarin, also of Florida, gave the fans an entertaining eight rounds of action. Algarin’s boxing skills earned him a unanimous decision over the tough–as–nails Walker.

Cayman fans enjoyed a home win even before Whittaker entered the ring. Local veteran Ian Osbourne went to 6–0 by narrowly defeating Joseph Benjamin of Miami. Although he lost, Benjamin did score a knockdown against Osbourne and his bizarre movements in the ring made him one of the night’s fan favourites. Dale Ramoon, Brandon Lyons and Timmy Ebanks were the judges for all bouts.

A touching ten–bell salute to the late Mr. Dalmain Ebanks was given prior to the climatic Whittker–Lyell fight. Ebanks is widely considered to be the father of Caymanian boxing and was instrumental in steering a young Charles Whittaker way from trouble and into the sport that one day would make him a world champion. Whittaker dedicated the win to his former mentor.