The Cayman Islands Elite Boxing Federation confirmed with the Compass that four teenage amateur fighters will compete at the ‘Clash in Cayman’ sequel next month.
The mega fight night, organised by GBH Promotions, in association with Fightzone, will also feature Jaden Eccleston, who represents both Cayman and Jamaica, making his professional debut.
Caymanians Matthew Thompson, Damar Robinson, Ben Vagniez and Spencer Pandy will share the spotlight on the card, headlined by undefeated Mandeep Jangra and Conor McIntosh competing for the WBF Super Featherweight title.
At last year’s event, all three amateurs featured from Cayman, including Eccleston, won their fights, and now a new batch of boxers will be looking to continue where their countrymen left off when they face a few Jamaican prospects.
Thompson, 16, will put his 2-0 amateur record on the line at 165 lbs against Kayell Beckford.
Vagniez, 18, at 140 lbs, will be in the hunt to regain his momentum, after suffering his first defeat earlier this year, when he faces Ajaun Graham.
Pandy, 16, will take on Dominick Kerr at 175 lbs while Robinson, 16, will open the events at 150 lbs, against Jayquon Beckford.
‘The perfect place to start a pro career’
For 25-year-old Eccleston, a move into the professional ranks has been an ongoing discussion that he can finally put to bed when he squares off against Jamaican boxer Fabian Tucker.
The two-time Caribbean champion and the Pan Am Games competitor told the Compass that his goal is simple: “Get the win by any means necessary”.
“I won’t say that I’m looking for a first-round or a second-round stoppage, but if it comes, it comes,” he said.
In doing so, he believes that his preparation thus far, under longtime coach Floyd Trumpet at the Performance Lab, has prepared him for whatever lies ahead.
“We’ve been putting in the work, doing what we need to do,” Eccleston said. “We knew one day we [would] go pro, and this opportunity came, and he said why not, let’s take it, especially considering that this is where we started my amateur career. This is the place that built me, so this is the perfect place to start the pro career.”
Globally known fight figure Dennis Hobson and boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. will both attend, with Jones Jr. set to corner Jangra in the final fight.
Prior to the main event, the UK’s Katie Healy will defend her Commonwealth Silver Super Bantamweight title against compatriot Ashleigh Johnson.
Eccleston believes that this year’s event will exceed the one in 2023, noting that he hopes organisers continue to put on the event annually.
“We have some amazing young boxers here that just needs the experience and exposure and the support because boxing is a hard sport.”
Clash in Cayman II is scheduled to take place on 2 Nov., at the Lions Centre, beginning at 5pm.
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