‘It’s time for him to retire!’- Amsterdam annihilates DeClou in first round KO win

Guyanese Desmond Amsterdam believes his fellow countryman Edmond DeClou should call it quits in boxing following last weekend’s brief bout between the two on the Caribbean Boxing Organisation’s (CBO) first-ever Pro/Am card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Amsterdam of the Guyana Defence Force pulled off an emphatic first round knockout over DeClou in what was pitted as the main showpiece on the 13-fight card, staged by the CBO and Bris-O Promotions in partnership with the Guyana Boxing Board of Control and the Guyana Boxing Association.

Click here to view photos of Amsterdam vs DeClou fight 

Click here to view photos of the amateur segment 

Click here to view photos of the professional segment

Click here to view faces at the boxing 

DeClou hardly landed a punch in a woefully one-sided affair in the wee hours of Sunday, falling to the canvas on three occasions, referee Eion Jardine waving off the contest two minutes, 29 seconds in the opening round of the scheduled six.

Amsterdam fought with purpose and intent from the moment the bell went off, forcing DeClou on the defensive from the get-go. DeClou had little time to settle as Amsterdam unleashed his power punches to good effect.

“I taught him a lesson. It’s time for him to retire,” a confident Amsterdam said after the fight.

“I know the guy- a senior fighter- but as I say I’m the gamechanger and I come to take over.”

For Amsterdam, Guyana’s first-ever medallist at an American Boxing Confederation Elite Championship, the victory was a significant moment for his career.

“Wow. This win here feels so great. This is the best win for me in my whole boxing career.”

Efforts to get a comment from DeClou were futile.

He was clearly unhappy with the referee’s decision to end the fight, gesturing, as he barged out the ring, that Amsterdam was hitting him behind the head.

Amsterdam now has two knockout victories in as many professional fights, while DeClou, a former Guyana national Middleweight champion, slipped to 18-6-1.

While Amsterdam is set to feature on the Elton Dharry versus Salmin Kassim world title card on March 28 in Guyana, it is unclear what is DeClou’s next move, having suffered consecutive knockout defeats within the last three months.

See below results of the professional fights

• Junior Welterweight (four rounds)- Jamal Eastman (Guyana) won by Unanimous Decision (40-36, 39-37, 40-36) against Delon Charles (Guyana). Both fighters were making their professional debut
• Middleweight (four rounds)- Mitchell Wielson (Suriname) won Unanimous Decision (39-37, 39-37, 39-37) against Tyreece Taitt (Barbados)
• Junior Welterweight (four rounds)- Joel Williamson (Guyana) won by a TKO against Damar Haslam (Jamaica) who threw in the towel after two rounds
• Featherweight (four rounds)- Kevin Isaacs (Guyana) won by Unanimous Decision (39-37, 39-37, 39-37) against Samuel Greene (Suriname)
• Light Heavyweight (six rounds)- Charles Cox (Barbados) won by TKO against Quincy Gomes (Guyana) after referee Eion Jardine waved off the contest 56 seconds into Round Four
• Welterweight (eight rounds)- Rasheed Williams (Bahamas) won by Unanimous Decision (77-73, 78-73, 79-70) against Nico Yeyo (Jamaica)
• Light Heavyweight (six rounds)- Desmond Amsterdam (Guyana) knocked out Edmond De Clou two minutes, 29 seconds in the first round

See below results of the amateur fights

• 40kg (three rounds)- Roopesh Balgobin (Guyana) won on points against Junior Madray (Guyana)
• 71kg (three rounds)- Ossis Prince (Guyana) was deemed medically unfit to box, handing Shakquain James (Guyana) the victory
• 76kg (three rounds)- Ken Harvey (Guyana) knocked out Zahir Timpico of Suriname in the second round
• 5kg (three rounds)- Travis Inverary (Guyana) won on points against Mordino Massie of Suriname
• 76kg (three rounds)- Chivoro Blackson of Suriname won on points against Jofes Jackman of Guyana
• 90+kg (three rounds)- Abiola Jackman of Guyana won on points against Eyed Angel George of Trinidad and Tobago

Best Schoolboy– Roopesh Balgobin

Best Youth– Ken Harvey

Best Elite– Chivoro Blackson

Best Female– Abiola Jackman

Overall CBO Best Boxer– Travis Inverary

The CBO is a conglomerate of promoters from Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Martin, Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada, Curacao and Suriname fusing their vast experience and working in unison to build a stronger Caribbean boxing community.

President of the CBO and Chief Executive Officer of Bris-O Promotions Seon Bristol explained that each country will undertake to host an event every month, with Guyana targeting the staging of three to complete a full year of boxing.