Fans were treated to an epic night at the second ‘Clash in Cayman’ where boxers stepped into the ring and delivered exciting fights, some of which included knockouts by both the professionals and amateurs on the card.
The Lions Centre was jam-packed on Saturday, 2 Nov., for the mega event put on by GBH Promotions and headlined with a title fight between Mandeep Jangra and Conor McIntosh – a bout fans won’t soon forget.
After 12 rounds of action in the final fight of the night, the showboating Jangra got his hand raised to claim the World Boxing Federation super featherweight title – the first fighter representing India to win a boxing world title.
“Whatever I achieved today was because of Roy [Jones Jr],” Jangra said of his coach in his post-fight interview. [Jones] believed … that I could do something and today because of him I created history for India, the first Indian boxer who is a world champion.”
Jangra also thanked his sponsors and country while crediting his opponent McIntosh for going to war with him between the ropes.
The main event with Jangra and McIntosh capped off a night that showcased two other title fights and a pair of Caymanian amateurs picking up first-round stoppages over two Jamaican hopefuls.
Relentless Cayman amateurs
It only took one minute and 47 seconds to get Cayman off to a winning start, following an onslaught from Ben Vagniez on Jamaica’s Devonte Barnes.
That was followed by another relentless performance from teammate Matthew Thompson, who unloaded a barrage of punches on Kayell Beckford, forcing the referee to wave off the contest one minute and 38 seconds into the fight.
Perhaps the biggest victory for the home team came when Jaden Eccleston, who represents both Cayman and Jamaica, made his professional debut in emphatic fashion against Fabian Tucker.
“I studied him for the first 30 seconds of the first round and I said in the second round I am going to come out different, make a few adjustments, and I just carried out the plan as my coach instructed me to,” Eccleston told the Compass.
Eccleston went to the body often in the second round and followed that up with unanswered uppercuts and hooks that forced the referee to mercifully step in to wave off the contest.
“It feels great to get the stoppage over a guy that has never been stopped,” Eccleston said. “I hope he is well and healthy, and I thank him for taking the fight.”
Professionals clash
After Eccleston’s first pro fight, it was time for the more experienced boxers to continue their climb to the top of the rankings.
Prior to Jones cornering Jangra in the main event and before rapping his song, ‘Can’t Be Touched’, he coached James Wilkins against Mexico’s Alan Montiel in a six-round fight that ended in a controversial split decision in favour of Montiel.
Next up was the returning Katie Healy, who won the Commonwealth Silver Super Bantamweight title at the inaugural Clash in Cayman. The UK boxer defended her belt on Saturday against a game Ashleigh Johnson who many thought had actually edged Healy.
“She did the perfect fight … but equally, so did we,” Healy said after the bout. “There is still work to be done but I’m happy with my performance and what a great fight. I hope to be back because I love this place.”
Perhaps the performance of the night, though, belonged to Filipino Michael Dasmarinas, as he overpowered Eduardo Esquivel to win the WBF international featherweight belt.
Dasmarinas had the crowd cheering from the minute he started walking to the ring and for as long as the fight lasted.
The Filipino boxer’s experience proved too much for Esquivel, who was outclassed with devastating punches before Dasmarinas landed a vintage left hand counter two minutes and 14 seconds into the first round, that left the Belize native unable to recover.
‘Clash in Cayman II’ was put on by Barry Bodden, of GBH Promotions, and globally known fight figure Dennis Hobson, in association with Fightzone.
- Compass journalist Seaford Russell Jr was part of the commentating team for the event.
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