Were boxers ripped off?

A contingent of four boxers and two officials returned home Sunday afternoon from Martinique, where they participated in an invitational boxing card organized by the Martinique Boxing Club Spirit of Pavilla Boxing Force. The card featured boxers from St Lucia, Dominica, Guadeloupe and from the host country Martinique.

The St Lucian boxers lost three of the encounters while one was called a draw. Nyran David lost on points in a close contest against Thomas Marc of Guadeloupe in the 69kg Welterweight contest for novices. Many thought David had won.

Joshua Duberry lost a bantamweight novice clash when the referee stopped the contest against Gervais Capron of Martinique who was born in St Lucia and is now a naturalized Martiniquan. He is originally from the Bagatelle area in Marchand.

Lightweight novice Adrian Louis lost his bout against Charles Andre Tisba when the referee stopped the contest in the second round.

St Lucian senior welterweight Ron Bastien was involved in a very controversial encounter against Guymili Calendrier of Guadeloupe. Everyone thought Bastien won the bout but it was ruled a draw. According to amateur boxing there must be a winner in an amateur boxing bout.

Manager of the St Lucia Boxing team in Martinique, Second Vice President and PRO of the St Lucia Amateur Boxing Association, Brian Mc Donald, said he was very disappointed with the decisions on the night as none of the boxers from St Lucia and Dominica could have won a bout against their French opponents with many of the decisions being very controversial and not well received.

The boxers from all the countries used the event as preparation for the upcoming Creole Boxing Championships taking place here at the end of this month.