Sakima Mullings from the Bruising gym in Stony Hill removed any doubt about him being the best amateur welterweight boxer in Jamaica today, with an impressive victory over Rikardo Smith from the Hard Knocks gym, Savanna-la-Mar, last Friday night. This was the feature event on the nine-bout Burger King Amateur Boxing Series card at the Barbican Beach Football venue.

Smith who has been the top man in that weight class for some years, lost a close contest to Mullings last year, but there were many who believed that the always impressive Smith had an off-night. Last Friday, however, both men came prepared and it was all-out action from the start.

Brilliant attack

Smith attacked brilliantly at the start and after one blistering flurry in the first round, Mullings was barely able to stay on his feet. He kept his composure, however, counter-attacked and was soon on even terms with Smith. After a clash of heads near the end of the round, Smith's right eye started to close, and it grew progressively worse. The doctor gave the all-clear for the bout to continue, but there is no doubt that it bothered him.

By the end of the third round the eye was nearly closed, but Smith fought on gamely. Mullings used a clever mix of offensive and defensive skills to keep himself ahead on the scorecards of the judges and at the end, the result of the fight was never in doubt.

The fair-sized crowd that showed up at this new venue for boxing, thoroughly enjoyed the action and a supporting entertainment package.

Other bouts

Two other bouts that packed a lot of action and drew cheers from spectators were the middleweight contests between Catoney Robinson from the Stanley Couch gym who defeated Michael Holmes from Bruising gym and Oraine Walters from the Job Walters gym who outpointed Camion Goldson from Stanley Couch gym.

Other winners were: Adrian Matthews, Stanley Couch gym over Orville Henriques from the G.C.Foster gym; Kevin Hylton, Hard Knocks over Kenardo Brown, Heavy Metal; Montrose Lewis, JDF over Kevon Smith, Heavy Metal; Joel Smith, Jamaica Defence Force over Jovan Gayle, Bruising gym; Oshane Cleary, Heavy Metal over Cody Barnett, Cayman Islands and Kimarni Campbell, Job's gym over Asanda Mullings Heavy Metal.