Philmore Barnett, long-time Cayman boxing official, earlier this month introduced fight fans to the youngest of his offspring; while all his sons have stepped into the ring, his last-born could be the one to take the family’s love of boxing to the world stage.
Many teenagers get into boxing for self defence, for fun or for fitness but Phillip Serrato Livingston remains true to his goal of becoming a world champion in the sport.
While he has a long way to go, Serrato Livingston showed off his talent at Elite Fight Night 6, on 15 June. With both his father and older brother Cody in his corner, and sister Monique cheering him on from the sidelines, Serrato Livingston dominated at his exhibition bout. Although there was no winner declared, it was clear that he had the advantage.
“He’s young, he just started like a year ago in the gym,” Barnett told the Compass. “He just came from Colombia, a year-and-a-half now. So, I am working with him in the gym, training him. He’s getting sharp, he’s getting ready and he is going to be a champion one day and it’s a beautiful thing.”
The family tradition began when Barnett got involved in boxing as an amateur in 1987. He had plans to go professional but he noted that “life happened” and he had to prioritise his personal obligations. However, he has remained in the sport as a referee and judge.
“Getting a family; things can make a turn,” he said. “So I just had to stick with the family and forget about the boxing … but hopefully my son will take off with it and make me feel proud as a father and an ex-fighter.”
His son Cody – a former junior featherweight – represented Cayman through several fight nights, including two in Jamaica, but he was forced to put the gloves down early in his career.
“All of my kids participated in boxing; Cody, unfortunately, he got sick so we took him out,” Barnett said. “To have a generation of fighters under me that I can pass on my experience – maybe one day Phillip can become a professional and prove to everybody that they can do it. He can be an ambassador for the Cayman Islands one day.”
Barnett’s hope for his youngest son is something that Serrato Livingston embraces, telling the Compass after his fight that he wants to reach the top in his sport one day.
“I want to help a lot of people. I want to be a world champion,” the young boxer said.
He acknowledged he was nervous during his first fight, but said having his father and brother in his corner helped.
“I was nervous from two days ago, but when the first punch [was thrown], I was like everything is gone,” he said. “It means a lot for me to have them [in my corner]; very much love and they make me push harder but I feel more comfortable when I’m with them. I have no fear.”
It isn’t unusual in boxing to have a father-son coach-boxer team. In fact, some of the greatest boxers of all time – Floyd Mayweather Jr., Devin Haney and Tyson Fury all were cornered by their fathers.
Barnett also believes that it is one of the best ways for a boxer to make it in the sport, especially from a mental standpoint.
“It takes a lot of pressure off of them,” Barnett said. “It takes a lot of pressure off of me too, but in boxing you have to have pressure, you have to pressure them so that they can perform and I’ve seen my kids growing and performing.”
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