The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BIRTHDAY boy Tyrone Oliver could not have found a better way to show his appreciation to his mother than winning his amateur boxing match in a dramatic come-from-behind fashion.

On Saturday night, at the Enoch Backford Auditorium, Oliver was one of three Bahamians from the Strikers Boxing Club who was successful in their showdown with the visiting boxing team from Toronto, Canada.

Oliver, who turned 20 on Mother’s Day, dedicated his triumph to his mother, Eunice Munroe, who was the first to greet him with a big hug after ring referee Gregory Storr raised his hand in victory as judges Taureano ‘ŔReno’ Johnson, his mother Elkina Johnson and Renaldo Minus had awarded him the decision.

“I felt very confident about the fight. Coming into this fight, I was a bit sceptical about my opponent because I didn’t have any footage of him,” Oliver said. “After I threw the first punch in the first round, I knew I had the advantage because I was a lot quicker than he was and I had a lot more experience than he did.”

Boxing out of the welterweight division, Oliver found himself having to come back off the ropes throughout the first two rounds as Alex Navarro out of the Headrush/Grants Boxing Club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was the aggressor in the first two rounds.

But in the third, Oliver stepped it up as he turned things around. In fact, he was so impressive in the ring that Navarro had to constantly hold on for his life.

The two other Bahamians who emerged victorious were Reean Rollins and Davon Hamilton. Falling short in their matches were D’�ngelo Swaby, Amron Sands, Israel Johnson and Kendric Stuart.

Light welterweight

Reean Rollins, Strikers Boxing Club, successful debut over Sayon Campbell, formerly of Champion Amateur Boxing Club, currently unattached.

In the battle of two Bahamians to kick off the show, Campbell got a standing eight count in both the first and second rounds as Rollins punished him. However, in the third round, Campbell stepped it up and the two slugged it out, but it was a little too late.

“It was really a challenge. I didn’t expect my opponent to come out with all that power, but all of the hard work paid off. I came out with the victory,” said Rollins, a 16-year-old 10th grader at St Augustine’s College.

Super heavyweight

Nick Fantauzzi, Headrush/Grants Boxing Club, Toronto, Canada def. D’Angelo Swaby, Strikers Boxing Club.

The first showdown between the Bahamas and Canada went in favour of the visitors. The six-foot, three-inch Fantauzzi used his height advantage to slow down the tempo after he got rocked for a standing eight count in the first round. Swaby gave it all he had in the second and third but it was obvious that he didn’t have the stamina to contain Fantauzzi.

“It was a good fight. He’s a really strong fighter, a good guy, so it was hard to catch him with some good shots,” Fantauzzi said. “In the first round, I felt his power, but it wasn’t enough to hurt me, so I was fine.”

Super heavyweight

Davon Hamilton, Strikers Boxing Club, def. Roger Ray Watler from the Dalmain Ebanks Boxing Club, Cayman Islands.

Closer to home, Hamilton had his hands full with his Caribbean rival. So did referee Storr.

Watler caught Hamilton with a flurry to force Storr to give the Bahamian an eight count in the first round. In the second round, Watler took a knee to get the attention of Storr so that he could adjust his head gear. After another assault, Watler needed his gear adjusted again. But in the third, Hamilton had enough of Watler’s tactics and he took matters in his hands to pull off the win.

“It was a good fight. The guy was a strong fighter. He tried to come on to me, but he couldn’t slow me down or stop me,” Hamilton said. “I truly believed that I had this fight. I gave him a lot of love because it was good fight.”

Super heavyweight

Andre Gore, Headrush/Grants Boxing Club, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, def. Amron Sands, Strikers Boxing Club.

Using his 6-5 frame, 20-year-old Sands made his debut by powering his way to a quick stoppage for an eight count on Gore in the first round.

But Gore managed to make the adjustment in the second round and got even as Sands was administered an eight count. The two slugged it out in the third, but the experience paid off for Gore as he got the better of the match-up.

“It was one hell of a fight. Sands had the reach, the agility and the power. He was 25 pounds heavier than I was, but I had to dig down deep to win it,” said Gore, who last month won the Ontario Golden Gloves Tournament to push his record to 5-1.

Light heavyweight

John-Michael Bianco, Champion Boxing Club, Brampton, Ontario, Canada def. Israel Johnson, Strikers Boxing Club.

After falling behind to Johnson in the first round, Bianco got even in the second. As the two clashed in the middle of the ring in the third, Bianco landed much more shots as he sealed the victory.

“It was very good. I felt I should have been more tactful instead of aggressive and it worked,” Bianco said. “Israel put up a good fight. That guy is great. I had to feel him out in the first round, but I went after him in the second and the third.”

Featherweight

Damian Falcon, Champion Boxing Club, Brampton, Ontario, Canada def. Kendric Stuart, Strikers Boxing Club.

In the final match of the night, Stuart set the stage as he took command in the first round. Falcon, however, stamped his approval on the fight in the second round. Despite getting a cut on his nose in the third, Falcon had a gallant effort in the third to pull off the upset.

“It was a good fight. The guy put up a great fight, one of the toughest guys I ever faced,” Falcon said. “Most of the guys I fought were taller than me, so I had to be careful. I knew he would come back in the third, so I was glad that I pulled it off.’’

The 19-year-old Falcon, who improved to 7-7, was named the Fighter of the Night. The Fight of the Night was between Gore and Sands.