After opening day, Jones wants Fight Nights to be springboard for talent
Published:Tuesday | July 4, 2023 | 12:54 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
After a strong showing on the opening night of the Wray and Nephew Fight Night, Jamaica Boxing Association president Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones says he is targeting these series to be the springboard for talent in all weight classes to be among the best in the world.
Jones was speaking on Saturday’s seven-match card which included two professional fights, headlined by Jermaine ‘Breezy’ Richards’s third-round TKO heavyweight win over American Stephen Kirnon.
Jones said that the card on display at the Cling Cling Oval in Olympic Gardens is the stage that they have been working on to be a hub for boxing, not only nationally, but regionally as well.
“Without a doubt, this is the platform that we have been wanting. This is the platform that will start setting the trend of Jamaica being a hub for boxing, not just locally but in the Caribbean and, after a while, internationally,” Jones told The Gleaner. “ But Jamaica will be known for fights because our boxers will get better, will get bigger competition, will be fighting international opponents, and will be recognised.”
With the next fight series scheduled to be in Denham Town in five weeks, Jones says that they will continue the format of branching to such communities to connect and support the home communities where the boxers are from.
“We want to showcase the communities. Most of the boxers come from these communities. And we have been in the communities using boxing as social support and personal development for the boxers. And it has been galvanising families, community members, and guardians,” Jones said. “So they are all interested in seeing the boxers from their communities. So it is only right that we go in there, showcase all the Jamaicans. We will be in the communities and in other locations as well.”
Jones says that having the card foster a blend of fights from different weight classes means they will be able to trigger local development across the board for persons to build their record here in Jamaica.
“The Contenders series was about one weight class at a time. This platform is for any boxer with an ability that can go all the way. The Contender was getting to be the best in Jamaica. This is about being the best in the world. We have the platform. You don’t need to leave the country any more to get there. You can do it from here and get a WBA title shot,” Jones said.
In the other professional fight on the card, Juazier ‘Iron Man’ Herron defeated Darron ‘Avatar’ Weir, by unanimous decision.