Panama challenge for Cayman’s top boxers

Alexander Smith, Dariel Ebanks and Chambria Dalhouse are some of the fighters on the 1 April card.

In what could be their toughest recent test, some of Cayman’s finest amateur boxers will step into the ring against opponents from Panama on Saturday, 1 April.

The Elite Marble and Granite Fight Night 4 is being hosted at Lions Centre by the Cayman Islands Boxing Association.

Top local fighter, Dariel Ebanks, who won gold at the Caribbean Development Boxing Tournament in Barbados last December, will headline the card with a light heavyweight bout. Other local boxers include welterweight Hopkin Ebanks, who earned a silver in Barbados; Alexander Smith; Jason Parchment and female fighter Chambria Dalhouse.

“Panama are sending a strong team over and it will be a tough test for our Cayman team. We anticipate some fireworks and a great show for the Cayman public,” said Mark Woollard, the boxing association’s commercial manager as he launched the event at a press conference on Monday, 6 March.

 

L-R: Mark Woollard, Hopkin Ebanks, Ryan Barrett, Chambria Dalhouse, Donie Anglin, Tommy Duffy (Elite Marble & Granite).

Nayon ‘Donie’ Anglin, one of the national team coaches, said based on what he’s witnessed first-hand in Panama, it will be a battle. “I know they have a strong team, strong fighters…I know what we’re up against,” he said.

However, Anglin backed his fighters against the challenge. “Our fighters are very hot right now and ready to fight, so it’s not going to be easy for Panama,” he told reporters. “These guys are determined to win.”

While the details of the card are still being finalized in terms of the actual matchups, Panama will be bringing current Women’s 75kg World Champion, Atheyna Byron to compete against top Dominican Boxer Maria Moronta.

An added draw for Elite Marble and Granite Fight Night 4 will be former world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, who will be ringside and will also conduct a training session with the boxers in the days leading up to the Panama fights.

The fight night is being held ahead of what promises to be a busy summer for Cayman’s boxers.

 

Both Dariel and Hopkin have the continental championships, which will serve as qualifiers for the AIBA World Championships in September. Ahead of those contests, the two fighters are expected to participate in a training camp in London, England to get as much ring experience as possible.

Meantime, Dalhouse and Smith will likely represent Cayman at the Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas in July.

“We know that we’re under a lot of pressure and it’s going to be a big test, possibly the hardest out of all the matches I’ve done since I’ve been here,” said lead national coach Ryan Barrett, the former world titlist, who took up the job last April.

Hopkin Ebanks, who sports an 8-3 record inside the squared circle, admitted that it was challenging trying to juggle work and training but he said that would not deter him. “In everything, I try to be confident, try to keep my head above water,” he said.

Dallhouse said she will be intensifying her training as she seeks her third straight win.

CaymanSportsBuzz.com will have more on the upcoming fight card in the coming days.

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