Donovan "The Real Prince" Ruddock Jr
At 34 years old Donovan “The real prince” Ruddock Jr, has achieved his main goal of launching a professional boxing career.
But the son of iconic two-time Jamaican-Canadian heavyweight champion Donovan "Razor" Ruddock is determined to soar even higher and out of the shadow of his famous father.
Unlike his father, who turned pro at age 19, Ruddock Jr is off to a late start, but he remains undeterred by criticisms that may come about his age, and is instead focused on the prospects of what can be achieved, provided he gets the proper backing.
“I am trying to walk my own path, I am trying to do my own thing and create my own identity. Many times people hear the name they label me as my dad, but I want to create my own history and not live in his shadow," Ruddock Jr declared.
“My career just started because I didn’t really get support like that, so it was kind of rough to get going because everybody was busy doing their own thing and then the family finally came together to make it happen. So it is just about moving forward from here to find my own success,” he told SportsMax.TV.
Though admitting that he doesn’t pack the power of his father, who is ranked on The Ring magazine's "100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time" list, Ruddock Jr believes he possesses more style and flair which he paraded during his debut professional bout against Jazeer Heron at the ‘Rumble in the Sun’ boxing showcase at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday night.
With that bout ending in a draw, Ruddock Jr knows he has much more work to do if he intends to get anywhere close to, or even surpass his father’s record of 47 professional fights, including 40 wins, six losses and one draw, achieved in a dazzling 20-year career.
Even “Razor” Ruddock’s amateur run was lined with historic wins over Lennox Lewis, and show-stopping victories over Ken Lakustra, James "Bonecrusher" Smith, Greg Page and Mike Dokes.
For Ruddock Jr, his amateur record was 12 fights, including seven wins and five losses, and he also won the Golden Glove Novice title in Florida.
“I honestly don’t believe I have the same power as him (my dad) but I believe I have a better boxing style. If I get some full training camps to put in some serious work, I feel like I can put on amazing shows, I feel like I can put on some of the best fights because I am kind of an aggressive fighter and I really do push for action,” Ruddock Jr shared.
“I feel like I just need to calm down a little bit and just let things come to me. It is every boxer’s dream to win a title, but we all have to start small. There are a lot of things that I want to do, but it takes time and a lot of hard work," he acknowledged.
Reflecting on his first professional bout, the South Carolina-based boxer rued the fact that his first time in Jamaica and, by extension first fight, was ruled a stalemate, as he believes he was more efficient in his execution.
“It feels good to have my first professional fight in Jamaica but I feel it was just a biased decision because of my last name and my relationship with my father, I believe is why they didn’t want to give it (the win) to me. I kind of did come in a little boasy but that’s just my character and showmanship I believe is what sells tickets,” Ruddock Jr reasoned.
“I felt like I beat him to the jab, I landed more effective right hand punches, so just the mere fact that I was the ring general and I got some body shots in which he didn’t, meant I won the fight. But hopefully I can come back another time for a rematch,” he noted.
Finally, Ruddock Jr, who now fights in the welterweight category, pointed out that his ambition is to drop down to the lightweight division and work his way up.
“I would rather fight the lightweight because I feel like I can win a belt there and then move up and when another belt at the welterweight. That would look good on my resume being a champion in two weight division and that’s my dream,” the approachable boxer stated.
“But it is going to take a lot of hard work, I’ve taken the lessons from this experience and so I’ll just go back home, get my stuff together and see where we go from here,” Ruddock Jr ended.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Talented 52-member team to represent T&T at inagural Carifta Gymnastics Champs
Trinidad and Tobago has named a 52-member team for the inaugural Carifta Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which will see a plethora of the regions rising stars showcase their skills at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston, Jamaica, from November 29-30.
The team to represent the Twin Island Republic across 10 categories was selected after a recent two-day trial event at Woodbrook Youth Facility.
Gymnasts were selected from eight clubs, with Tots & Tumblers (28) and Olympia (14) set to field the most representatives at the event, which will also see Barbados, Bahamas, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, along with host Jamaica, in action.
Thema Williams Gymnastics Academy (three), Gymnastics Explorers and Lees Gymnastics qualified two, while Academic Flippers, Golden Stars Gymnastics Academy and Mucurapo Artistic Achievers all qualified one athlete.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Gymnastics Federation explained that athletes who qualified were required to make minimum scores and finish in the top four positions within their level and age group to earn an automatic placement on the team.
“The fifth and final spots within each level and age group were subsequently awarded to the fifth place all-around qualifiers out of the trials event,” the federation said in a statement.
Anabeth Vargas (Panama) and Mabel Moreno (Colombia) officiated at the trials.
Team:
USAG Level 1 – Andaya Singh, Azalea Pierre, Brittney Joseph, Genesis Canzius, Imani Regis, Janicia Hall, Krisanne Ramoutar, Ricquel Marcellin, Sophie Espinoza, Yarii Alexander
USAG Level 2 – Ashley Castillo, Avni Lopez, Eemaan Boucaud, Harleigh Chin Leung Kam, Keira-Leigh John, Kenzie Gonzales, Larisah Nevins, Miya Mondesir, Savannah Thomson, Xara Rampersad
USAG Level 3 – Arya Hagley, Bren Newallo-Badal, Cacique Darbeau, Isoke Morgan, Jael Baker, Kyra Johnson, Zariah Dopwell-Gittens, Zoey Ottley
USAG Level 4 – Aaliyah Gosai, Annabelle Aanensen, Asia Ali, Jaelyn Heywood, Me’Hera Callendar, M’Kaiyah Williams, Onia Hepburn
USAG Level 5 – Alicja Chang Kit, Alissa Mathias, Gabriella Christopher
USAG Level 6 – Chelsea Edwards, Haley Caldeira, Soriya Alleyne
USAG Level 7 – Amba Boodansingh, Gabrielle Webb, Michaela Francis, Shanika Joseph, Tessica Laurence, Tyanna Edwards, Yandy Stafford
USAG Level 8 – Annaleigh Edwards, Dailia Burke, Kathryn Alexander
USAG Level 9 – Alora Morang
PAGU Hopes – Shanika Joseph, Yandy Stafford, M’Kaiyah Wiliiams (level one), Annaleigh Edwards, Alora Morang (level two), Dailia Burke (level three)
Hansle Parchment and Coach Fitz Coleman honoured with National Awards on Heroes Day in Jamaica
Olympic gold medalist Hansle Parchment and his coach Fitz Coleman were among the sporting icons honoured at Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards 2024 on October 21, 2024, celebrated as National Heroes Day. The event, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston, recognized their exceptional contributions to the world of athletics.
Parchment, who won the 110m hurdles gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander Class. His accolade recognizes his outstanding achievements in track and field, which include an Olympic bronze in 2012, World Championship silver medals in 2015 and 2023, and his Olympic triumph.
His longtime coach, Fitz Coleman, was also recognized for his invaluable contributions to the sport. Coleman was awarded the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer Class for his role in Parchment’s success and his broader impact on Jamaica’s track and field development. Coleman, who once headed the IAAF High-Performance Centre, played a crucial role in shaping the career of sprint legend Usain Bolt and many other athletes.
Joining Coleman on the distinguished list of honorees was Paul Francis, head coach at the MVP Track Club. Francis, celebrated for his contributions to athletics, was also awarded the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer.
The world of football was also represented among the honorees, with Wendell Downswell, Technical Director of the Jamaica Football Federation, being awarded the Order of Distinction Officer Class for his long-standing contribution to Jamaican football. Downswell has been instrumental in the development of national teams, both as a former player and as a manager of various youth teams over the decades.
Dr. Paul Wright, a prominent figure in sports medicine, was conferred with the Order of Distinction Officer Class as well, in recognition of his services to the field of medicine and his work in developing the Jamaica Association of Sports Medicine.
This year’s National Honours and Awards celebrated the enduring contributions of these individuals to Jamaica’s sporting success and their continued influence in shaping future generations of athletes.
Burning desire: Sunshine Girls centre Sutherland ready to shine in Vitality Horizon series against England
Jamaican netballer Abigale Sutherland is no stranger to the highs and lows of the sport she loves. But as she gears up for a return to international action with the Sunshine Girls in the upcoming four-match Vitality Horizon series against England, her passion and hunger for the game have never been stronger.
Sutherland, whose career has seen its fair share of triumphs and challenges, has been using the recent international break to her advantage. For the dynamic centre, the pause in the competitive schedule was anything but a rest. Instead, it’s been a period of growth and self-reflection—a time to hone her skills and recharge her energy.
With the prestigious series against now number-two England scheduled for November 16 and 17 in Manchester, and November 25 and 26 in Jamaica, Sutherland can barely contain her excitement for the challenge to come.
“I’m extremely excited and proud to have been selected for the senior Sunshine Girls team again. During the break, I’ve focused on my personal growth and training, and I truly feel like I’m possibly in the best shape of my career. I’m eager to bring that energy and improvement onto the court and push myself to the limit, particularly with the added excitement of playing on home soil,” Sutherland told SportsMax.Tv.
“It’s a privilege to play at home, and I’m ready to show what I’ve been working on and give my all for the team and our supporters. Every match is an opportunity to not just play, but to show the world how much I’ve grown because playing against England is always a tough test, but that’s the kind of challenge I thrive on,” she added.
Sutherland’s career has been defined by resilience, as there have been moments of brilliance, but also times when injuries or off-form performances have threatened to slow her momentum. However, each setback has only made her stronger, deepening her resolve to make the most of every opportunity that comes her way.
"Netball quickly became my passion when I attended St Patrick’s Primary and then I went to The Queens School, where I got the opportunity to represent Jamaica at the Under 16 level, eventually becoming the captain. Once I got a foot in the national program, I steadily transitioned upward. But you know in sports, you have your ups and downs, so the journey hasn’t been without challenges. I’ve faced many disappointments, including being left off teams at times, but looking back, it was all worth it," Sutherland admitted.
Sutherland's opportunities came in 2022 when she made her senior team debut in the Taini Jamison Cup, and then the Americas Qualifiers that same year. Since them, the now 23-year-old has become a staple centre-court player for the Sunshine Girls, and was even a part of the team that copped bronze at the previous Netball World Cup.
"I’ve learned from every experience. The key is to stay focused and hungry. Going through the highs and lows taught me to be patient with myself and really embrace the journey," Sutherland shared.
"I’ve learned that when you’re given an opportunity, it’s important to make the most of it. These experiences have shown me that I’m stronger than I sometimes give myself credit for, and that hard work truly does pay off in the end. Every setback and success has shaped me, both as a player and as a person," she noted.
That said, Sutherland, who is set to graduate the UWI with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in November, pointed out that the upcoming games are not just about playing another international series—it’s about seizing the moment.
As such, her focus now is on delivering consistently and being a key contributor to Jamaica’s continued rise in the sport.
"This series won’t be easy, but I’m confident we’ll come out on the winning end. We have a well-rounded team that includes legends who I am grateful and privileged to be playing alongside, and we have a strong balance of experience and depth across every position. Everyone has been putting in the work, and I believe that with the quality we have, we’re in a great position to top the series," Sutherland reasoned.
"Mentally, I’ve been encouraging and speaking to myself daily, setting goals, and pushing myself to meet them. I’ve been working hard in the gym and on the court, and playing in local leagues to stay sharp. The feedback from my coaches and teammates has also been really positive, which boosts my confidence and helps me stay focused," she explained.
Armed with fresh determination and a drive to succeed, the jovial player, is optimistic that a positive showing in the series will open the doors for a possible contract in one of the top leagues in Australia, New Zealand or England.
“My overall goal is to compete at the highest level of netball, both for my country and in a top league. I want to be part of a World Cup-winning team with Jamaica because I truly believe that will happen. But, beyond that, I want to enjoy my years as a professional athlete, making the most of every opportunity and achieving everything I possibly can," Sutherland ended.
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