The pressure was intense as American Billy Lyell stood in the way of Charles Whittaker’s dream. The man from West Bay did not wilt when the bell rang, however. For many years Whittaker has declared to anyone who would listen that he would be a world champion one day.
Charles Whittaker acknowledges his fans after capturing the NBA Jr. Middleweight World Championship Saturday night at the Lions Center, Grand Cayman. Photo: Guy P. Harrison |
That day arrived in spectacular fashion Saturday night at the Lions Center before a standing-room-only crowd as Whittker won the vacant NBA Jr. Middleweight World Championship by fourth-round knockout.
The once troubled-youth who did time at a Jamaican reform school has come far. He overcame doubts and doubters to do exactly what he told us all he would. He delivered. Charles Whittaker is a world champion.
It wasn’t easy. Whittaker came out strong to the delight of the home crowd hoping to see local sports history made before their eyes. He repeatedly rocked Lyell with sharp combinations and opened a cut on his nose. But the American obviously had dreams of his own and matched Whittaker’s hunger for the title. Lyell picked up the pace in the second round and got the Caymanian’s attention with a couple of excellent punches. But the experienced Whittaker, 32, never relented, never lost his cool, and-most importantly-never stopped landing hard shots.
In the fourth round, Whittaker seem to sense that Lyell was weakening and turned up the heat, finally putting him on the canvas two minutes into the round to end the fight. Fans exploded in celebration, waving Caymanian flags and cheering their champ.
‘I did it! I’m champion of the world!’ screamed Whittaker to the approving crowd as they surged forward to be closer to him.
‘Read this belt,’ he said, ‘It says, ‘World Champion’.
‘I’m a living example of what hard work can achieve. I said I would do it, and I did it. I’m so grateful and thankful to God and to all my people, all the people of Cayman who believed in me and helped me. Thank you.’
Norman Wilson, Whittaker’s trainer, said he was very pleased with his fighter’s performance.
‘Winning this title puts him in range of some really big things. Now we’re going to have more opportunities for Charles to fight some big names.’
More on Charles Whittaker’s fight as well as other bouts held Saturday will appear in Tuesday’s Caymanian Compass.
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