The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A LITTLE short of one year since he has been in the ring, Meacher ‘Pain’ Major is gearing up for his return.

Major is expected to have a rematch with Brazilian Roger Rosa at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium on Friday, December 5. The fight will be Major’s first since he won an unanimous six-round decision over Rosa on December 15, 2013 in the Rainforest Theatre of the Wyndham Nassau Resort on Cable Beach.

Dubbed “Pain and Glory Part II: The Revenge,” the show will be promoted by Tommy Stubbs, assisted by Andy ‘Smudge’ Ford. Buttons Formal Wear is once again the major sponsor. The show is expected to be held under the patronage of Dr Danny Johnson, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture. Ken Wilson is scheduled to represent the ministry on the organisational team.

In their initial meeting, Major was awarded a 58-56, 58-56 and 60-54 decision by judges Matthew Rose, Talbert Wells and Gregory Storr. But from all indications in the ring, Rosa provided a real stiff challenge and made the fight much closer than the score indicated.

Before a jam-packed audience, Major put on a gallant effort, nursing a left hand injury that he had sustained in training.

“The elbow was a problem because I messed it up in training, but I kept going. I worked through the pain,” said Major, who is back in action after a year of inactivity. “I have to get back in the gym. I have a lot more to work on. As you can see, the ring rust from a whole year off. I have to try to get busy again.”

Prior to that fight, Major had not fought since December 12, 2012 when he lost his second straight fight in a third round TKO to Jose Felix Jr at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Rosa had predicted during the lead up to the fight that coming from a country with millions of people that there was no way he was going to let someone from an island of just 500 people beat him. He took the fight to Major and made him work for the victory, although he felt he should have been declared the champion.

“I feel good. The decision wasn’t right. Maybe the second round, I would give him the decision, but he didn’t land anything. I was throwing the combinations. He was just trying the jab,” Rosa said. “In the first round, when he threw his right hand, I ended up hitting my nose on his forehead. The cut wasn’t from a punch. I think he only won the second round. He didn’t throw anything. He only threw the jab and was punching me behind the head. He was a tough guy, but the fight was mine.”

Hopefully, part two will resolve the previous outcome, or it could set the stage for a third showdown next year.

In the meantime, efforts are being made to include heavyweight Sherman ‘the Tank’ Williams in his first fight at home since he stopped American Wade Lewis in the first round on April 18, 2007 at Clifford Park. Journeyman Williams, 42, is coming off a 10-round unanimous loss to Joseph Parker at The Trusts Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand for the PABA and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles.

And Lester Brown, who was scheduled to fight veteran Dencil ‘Death’ Miller, is expected to be on the undercard. Apparently, Miller declined to step in the ring after he had some issues with the organisers on the night of the fight. Stubbs said they had sorted out the problem, but Miller still objected and opted not to fight anymore.

Brown made his debut on February 2, 2012 when he stopped Anton Ward in the first round at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. He has not fought since.

If the initial show was any indication, Stubbs has indicated that he’s looking forward to an exciting part two on December 5.