Cayman may not have produced many world class boxers but there are plenty of amateurs who have the potential to be champion pros.
McField turned southpaw in the last round |
Two of the island’s finest novice amateurs fought themselves to a standstill at the Lions Centre on Friday night. Eric McField and Bruce Coulson were the light-middleweights who provided the evening’s first action on the Charles ‘The Killa’ Whittaker bill.
Both amateurs hail from the celebrated Cayman Islands Boxing Club in George Town so there was a lot of gym pride at stake. McField started favourite as he was slightly more experienced having won a bronze medal at the Caribbean championships in Trinidad last year in his first two official bouts.
Coulson was making his debut but had plenty of nightclub fights at the Matrix under his belt.
McField, taller and slicker on his feet, won the first two rounds comfortably as he picked Coulson off with jabs and sharp combinations.
Coulson knew he had to win the third to have any chance of winning on points and steamed in, throwing as many big rights as he could but never connecting well enough to floor his opponent.
Both tired in the fourth and last round, McField switching to southpaw. It worked a treat, throwing his opponent off his stride. McField won on a split decision which seemed about right. A great bout and credit should go to their coach Nayon ‘Donie’ Anglin, who also refereed the bout.
McField, a 24-year-old electrician, had in his corner Troy O’Neil, a former Caribbean light-heavyweight champion. He said: ‘Coulson had a strong right hand and hurt me a couple of times. He also caught me on the back of my neck which is sore now. Switching to southpaw worked beautifully. When I threw a jab he wanted to throw his right but didn’t and that gave me the opportunity to throw my left. On this island I’m undefeated in two bouts. I’m aiming for gold at the Caribbean championships next year. I know I can do it. Once you have the heart in boxing you can achieve anything.’
Coulson, also 24, works for Cayman Distributors. He had his brother Timothy, a mixed martial arts fighter, in his corner. Coulson said: ‘It was a close fight and we both fought hard. I hope to go to California in October for my next fight. I won about 20 fights at the Matrix and lost six.’
Anglin said: ‘Eric started well, punching cleaner and more accurately but faded as he got tired. Bruce was used to the slower pace of the Matrix where it’s three three-minute rounds. Tonight it was four two-minute rounds so he needed to fight at a faster tempo. Bruce was also winging more punches which didn’t help. Both are good enough to go to the Caribbean championships but in the meantime we’re trying to put on some shows to get them more experience.
‘I was very impressed with their performances based on their lack of experience. It helped develop their technique which is what they most need to improve.
‘Charles wants to fight here again in November and I’d like to put some amateur contests on, maybe this time bring some Jamaicans over and have at least one female bout. Tracey Corinna (the club’s most experienced female) desperately wants a bout and I’d love to match her.’
The Cayman Islands Boxing Club is located in the centre of George Town, just behind the library. Since being featured in the Compass last month, plenty of new members have joined including women. They train on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights at the club and Tuesdays and Thursdays at the track.
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