Speid Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter
JAMAICA'S KERRON Speid has embarked on his professional boxing career as planned and while he describes the change as "different", he is optimistic of making an indelible mark in his most recent undertaking.
The former three-time Caribbean heavyweight amateur boxing champion made his professional debut in Philadelphia recently and had mixed results. He won the first bout with a third-round knockout of Ohio's Luis Depp but lost the second on points to Patrick Nuamu of New York.
"I think I've started out well. I idled out the second fight which was why I lost but so far it has been a good experience for me," he said.
"Fighting as a pro is very much different than fighting as an amateur. It's easier in a sense as a professional in that I get to fight at a more relaxed pace but it is more serious in the ring because you can't depend on the referee to save you. It's the ref's job to protect the athlete an amateur but as a pro you're on your own," the cruiserweight fighter said.
Closing with an amateur record of 28-4-0, the 30-year-old southpaw dominated local boxing for close to 10 years before deciding to turn professional.
He hopes that his success then will follow him up to when he goes for a title shot in another two or three years.
"I intend to make it as a professional. I definitely have hopes of a title shot in maybe two or three years but I'm trying to get at least 14 fights under my belt before I even think of making that bid," he said.
He captained many a Jamaica team to Caribbean Boxing Championships and won the heavyweight boxing title in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Added to that he represented the country at the 1999 Pan-American Games where he won a bronze medal (Winnipeg, Canada), at Pre-Olympic box-off tournaments, World Tournaments and Commonwealth Games including the one held in Manchester, England last summer.
The Jamaica Boxing Board of Control's Willie Yap, who has responsibility for the development of local professionals, had high praises for Speid.
"It's a new thing for him but I'm positive he can succeed as a professional. It's good for him with his credentials," Yap said.
"Speid has outdone his amateur days so I think it's a good move he's making. I'm always in his corner and I support whatever he does because I know he will do it well," he said.
Speid, who is managed by Philadelphia resident James Wright, has his next fight scheduled for April but his opponent has not been decided. He is currently in training and is anticipating the match-up.
