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Putting The Boxing Back In Boxing Day
posted (December 27, 2012)
Last night, Mahogany Productions and BTL put the "boxing" back in Boxing Day with an amateur boxing card at the Biltmore Best Western. The fights pitted Belizeans against a visiting contingent from Chetumal. Channel 7 aired it live, and Jules Vasquez has a recap:..

Jules Vasquez reporting
The River Hall at the Biltmore Best Western was filled to capacity with a crowd of eager and sociable boxing fans. And they got a show: There were scintillating exchanges, devastating combinations, some showboating - entourage of young girls and One fighter even had an entourage.

One epic low blow which led to Anderson Pitillo declaring victory from a stretcher and of course, there was the home court advantage, animated fans and nonstop cheering.

At the end of the night, the Belizean fighters won three of the seven bouts, but two of those wins were by technical knockout, spectacular, dominant performances by Alex Neal and Max Pain Williams:

Alex Neal, WINNER BY TKO
"After when I saw that I was faster than him, I decided to turn it up on him because the punches that he was throwing want hurting me so I just turn it up on him. I get up from 4:30 in the morning, run and do my skip; I do running for over an hour then I do my sit-ups, pushups and from there my trainer puts me in the gym - that is from Sunday to Sunday for 4 months."

Max Pain Williams, Winner By TKO
"I feel like it's the power that he is feeling. I haven't hit him with a good shot, but I see he spit out his mouth piece."

Jules Vasquez
"How does a fighter like you remain motivated and in shape when we have so few boxing events in Belize?"

Max Pain Williams, Winner By TKO
"These guys right here when they see me on the streets they tell me that I will get my ass whip. I have to prove myself to my guys."

Leopold Smart, Trainer
"I am satisfy with the performance especially with the younger guys because from the last fight everybody could see the improvement that they made. In the next fight you will see more improvement."

One of Smart's boxers who has to go back to that drawing board was the main event Sharman Galvez who looked good early against his opponent Abraham Rojas but faded fast - and ended up gasping for air. He lost in a unanimous decision:

Jules Vasquez
"Was exhaustion a deciding factor is that bout?"

Sherman Galvez, lost by unanimous decision
"Definitely, I got tired in the 3rd round."

Jules Vasquez
"Is it because you didn't have the conditioning, you are not in fight shape, you don't have enough rounds in you?"

Sherman Galvez, lost by unanimous decision
"I have to say that I didn't work out enough. I have to put in more work and get a good checkup and try to improve."

Jules Vasquez
"Is it hard to maintain when we don't really have those regular bouts and so in Belize?"

Sherman Galvez, lost by unanimous decision
"Definitely, I am young and I got distracted easily; sometimes I want take a little drink and go party and stuff and then when the fight comes up I work out for 3 weeks to a month. I have to be more serious and thing. If the fight steps up I will be more serious and be in proper shape."

Jules Vasquez
"As the main event for tonight and as one of the most respected boxers in Belize I know it had to pain you to come out in a losing decision."

Sherman Galvez
"I will be real; in a way it bothers me but next time I will definitely do better. Sometimes we need to lose some to stay more focus and get much better."

And that was the general sentiment at this event - better next time, including better gear - but tonight was a good show, a shot in the arm for a sport with an eager if dormant fan-base:

Max Pain Williams, Winner By TKO
"The house was full - people were still standing up. It's coming back and I will bring it back, me."

Leopold Smart, Trainer
"I think the next fight it will be fuller because I will bring out better guys and these guys will develop."

Alex Neal, WINNER BY TKO
"In the future we want this boxing develop in Belize right and we don't really have anybody behind us but we want this reach to another level - that's why I am here fighting for the lion's den and I show the people that we can do this and I just need their help."

Jules Vasquez
"How do you feel fighting tonight and you hear this whole crowd behind you?"

Alex Neal, WINNER BY TKO
"I love it. I love Belize."

If you'd like to see the full event, it will repeat this weekend on Channel 7.

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