Boxing Coach Jesse Torres instructs a youngster as President of Better Opportunity for Talent, Bobby Ottley (right) looks on. (Photo Robert Luckock)
PHILIPSBURG--The sport of boxing featured prominently during the first annual Sports and Creative Industries Open house held in Raoul Illidge stadium over the weekend along with stands giving information on kick boxing, sailing, baseball, football, cricket, cycling, kayaking, and more.
St. Maarten National Boxing Federation was there with three of their boxers, Stephane Duzant, Malcolm Philips, and Shamar “Bounce” Bertram giving demonstrations to the many school children and members of the public, in addition to Better Opportunity for Talent Foundation (BOFT) who were promoting their “You Got Skills” initiative, distributing some flyers and registration forms on both days.
Boxer Shamar “Bounce” Bertram spars with a school boy during the Sports Open House over the weekend at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex. (Photo Robert Luckock)”
Federation President Shawn Blair noted Stephane and Malcom will be going to Curaçao on September 8 to compete in a boxing event.
“These three boxers are basically the ones we are concentrating on and hopefully by October at our next event they will become elite fighters. Then in December we go to the Caribbean Development Tournament in Guyana. And on November 2 in Russia, the international body will be voting for its new President.
The “YouA Got Skills” boxing clinic launched three weeks ago is based at Top Class Fitness Gym in South Reward with coaches Albert Adams, better known as the legendary Jesse Torres and Gerard Lake. So far, some nine to 10 kids are training every afternoon.
Asked what measures his boxing clinic is taking to protect potentially vulnerable children new to the sport, BOFT President Bobby Ottley said: “All sports can be inherently dangerous. But the key thing in boxing is to protect yourself. We give children the basic knowledge before they put on the gloves and teach them how to protect themselves. They are taught how to stand and how to keep their guard up at all times.
“Patience has a lot to do with it when waiting for an opening to throw a punch, but at the same time protecting yourself. They have to wear the headgear, the double mouthpiece, groin protectors; breast cups are for the ladies. So, with this protection there shouldn’t be any fear that boxing is dangerous. Jesse is a fine example because in his career he rarely got hit in the face because of his defensive style.
Torres concurred: “In the beginning it’s not about touching and hitting or sparring. It’s all about how to stand in the ring, how to keep your balance and protecting yourself. When you get more advanced we move on to touching. I’ve never condoned hitting hard, but we have all the protective gear. Defence is the most important thing in boxing, not offence. There’s no risk involved in our classes and I invite parents to come and watch.
