London’s calling for Dariel
Cayman boxing hope Dariel Ebanks took a giant step closer to London for this year’s Olympic Games.
Ebanks was victorious when the local team took on boxers from Jamaica during a high-voltage match-up.
The light-heavyweight stepped into the ring to face a familiar foe in Jonathan Hanson.
The two have met before on Cayman soil when Hanson was disqualified for comments he made towards the referee during the bout.
This time however Ebanks was the victor on boxing ability alone. There was only going to be one winner in this contest.
Now he will get the opportunity to acclimatise to UK conditions when he travels to Cardiff in Wales next month for a training camp.
Southpaw Ebanks then takes part in the final Olympic qualifiers in Brazil in May with London just around the corner.
Last weekends tournament in Kingston also gave young bantamweight Tafari Ebanks the chance to impress. And he didn’t disappoint.
At just 17 years old, he is maybe young in experience, but with each fight Tafari grows and grows.
His opponent, Toriano Nicholas, had six years advantage on Ebanks but despite the obvious age-gap, Tafari triumphed.
Super heavyweight Gino Brown took the decision in his match-up – but only after his opponent was disqualified for taking the fight beyond the bell on more than one occasion.
Taking to the ring for only the second time, Diego Rodriguez at 14 was the youngest member of the D Dalmain Ebanks Boxing Gym to travel and he showed massive potential with a points win over Shavon Lindo of the Bruising Gym.
One cause for concern was after Jessica McFarlane narrowly missed out on victory after a close points decision, she needed hospital treatment.
Jessica, who is asthmatic, was kept under observation overnight but discharged the following morning.
Diego’s brother, Reymon, was outpointed in his match-up