Boxing: Quartet returns from ‘Battle of the Islands’ with in-ring experience

Four of Cayman’s amateur boxers return from St. Maarten Thursday (7 June) after competing at the Saint Maarten Boxing Association’s ‘Battle of the Islands’.

The Cayman Islands Boxing Association (CIBA) sent Commonwealth Games delegates Dariel Ebanks and Brandy Barnes along with newcomers Thase Watler and Blayze Wood to the developmental tournament along with National Coach Rogerio Pitta.

Brandy Barnes, Light Flyweight (48 KG)

Barnes, 21, won her lone fight of the tournament defeating St. Maarten’s Asher Ferdinan.

Coach Rogerio Pitta: “Brandy won her fight by unanimous decision. All three rounds were similar, she moved around using her jab a lot. She landed a few combinations, we never felt pressured so I tried to let her do some different things, have some fun and build more confidence and experience.”

Blayze Wood, Welterweight (68.6 KG)

In his first amateur fight of the career, Wood lost via unanimous decision versus St. Maarten’s Shamar Bertram.

Coach Rogerio Pitta: “Blayze connected on some good punches and his movement was great. He faced a strong opponent and consumed a lot of his energy in the second round, where he began to get tired. He never give up. Overall, Blayze impressed everyone with his performance,  I thought he won this bout.

In his second fight of the tournament, Wood lost in the third round via referee stoppage to St. Maarten’s Malcolm Phillips.

Coach Rogerio Pitta: “In the first round, Blayze started well and was in control throughout the first minutes. Afterwards, Blaze lost some of his focus, and his opponent’s strength and experience was too much.”

Thase Watler, Super Lighweight (64.8 KG)

In his first fight, Watler lost via referee stoppage to Antigua’s Joshua Toussaint in the third round.

Coach Rogerio Pitta: “After a strong start in the first round which impressed the judges, Thase lost by RSC in the third round. He ran out of steam.”

In his second fight, Walter lost to St. Maarten’s Shamar Bertram via referee stoppage in the second round.

Coach Rogerio Pitta: “First Round, Thase did very well controlling and moving. His opponent was very strong. He had already fought Blayze so knew what to expect from him. A few minutes into the fight, Thase just got tired and stopped moving. He wasn’t throwing any combinations, lost power and was very slow.”

Dariel Ebanks opponent did not appear, thus giving him the victory in a walkover.