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• Kemahl 'Hitman' Russell gears up for thrilling comeback bout against Rafael Ortiz; aiming for spectacular KO

  On December 2, fans of boxing will witness the return of former Wray and Nephew Contender Champion and Junior North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Middleweight Champion, Kemahl 'Hitman' Russell (15-1, 11KO’s), as he steps into the ring against the formidable Mexican Middleweight Champion, Rafael 'El Iraki' Ortiz (16-5-1, 9KO’s).

  The highly anticipated eight-round showdown will unfold at the Pickering Casino Resort Arena in the Greater Toronto area, marking Russell's third fight since his remarkable comeback after a five-year hiatus.

  Following an intense eight-week training camp, Russell exudes confidence as he gears up for the challenge presented by Ortiz. Acknowledging his opponent's prowess, Russell anticipates a dominant performance, stating, “My performance will remain the same as my last fight. I feel sharp and strong, all that rust from my absence is finally gone. I’m ready for war on Saturday.”

  Expressing optimism about the upcoming bout, Russell added, “Camp has been solid, there are a few hiccups here and there, but I make the most of my situation as I always do. I will be entertaining and electrifying. I expect to get this guy outta there by the third round.”

  Promoter Tyler Buxton holds Russell in high regard, stating, “I expect Kemahl to showcase all of his skills and abilities in this fight. Ortiz is Kemahl’s toughest opponent since his return. Ortiz upset Omar Chavez last year and isn’t scared of a tough test.”

  

  The upcoming fight marks Russell's third under the United Boxing Promotions banner this year. His victories in April against Marcos Cornejo and September against Juan Raygosa, both by TKO, showcased his return to top form.

  The decision to base his training camps in Toronto aligns with his new promotional stable, emphasizing top-notch facilities and strong connections within the Jamaican community.

  Russell’s chief cornerman, Ryan “RG” Grant, expressed satisfaction with the Hitman’s progress, stating, "Simple, Kemahl has been out here, camp just keeps getting better and better. We are both excited about this fight coming and looking forward to making some big moves in the new year after we take care of business Saturday night.”

  Promoter Tyler Buxton explained the strategic decision behind hosting Russell’s training camps in Toronto, emphasizing its role in Russell’s continued success and marketability. Buxton added, “Kemahl’s quickly becoming a fan favorite here in Ontario. We have a large Jamaican following for our roster with the likes of Ricard “Big12” Brown, Shakeel Phinn, and Joshua Frazer. Kemahl is great with the fans after the events, taking photos and saying hi. He could be a main event very soon.”

  As the final week of preparation unfolds, Russell remains focused on fine-tuning his skills and refining his strategy. Addressing adjustments to training in a new location and with new personnel, Russell cryptically stated, “I’m more comfortable being uncomfortable. My adjustment has been good, and I feel like I’m in the right place at the right time, with the right people.”

   Russell's upcoming bout against Ortiz, officially promoted by United Promotions, promises to be a thrilling clash, with the added excitement of fellow Jamaican heavyweight Ricardo ‘Big 12’ Brown (9-0, 9 KO’s) taking on Josef ‘The Gladiator’ Darmos (14-6-3, 10KO’s) in a bid for title contention and a perfect knockout streak. Boxing enthusiasts can anticipate a night of high-caliber action at the Pickering Casino Resort Arena.

   

• Reggae Boyz pull off remarkable comeback to stun Canada and book semis, Copa America spots

  Jamaica's senior Reggae Boyz achieved what will be remembered as one of the most remarkable comebacks in Concacaf Nations League history, as they stunned Canada 3-2 in a lively second-leg League A quarterfinal encounter, at BMO Field in Toronto, on Tuesday night.

  Spurred by a brace from Shamar Nicholson, who scored in the 63rd and 66th minutes to take his international tally to 16 goals, and a 78th-minute Bobby Reid penalty, the Jamaicans overturned a 1-2 deficit to win on the away goal rule. The tie ended 4-4 on aggregate.

  Alphonso Davies (25th) and Ismael Kone (69th) got Canada's goals.

  Heimir Hallgrimsson's side in the process of securing their spot in the Nations League semi-finals, as well as the prestigious CONMEBOL Copa America 2024, rewrote the history books, as it was their first ever victory on Canadian soil, and the first time that the Caribbean side was scoring three goals against a North American opponent on their turf.

  The Reggae Boyz are now set to lock horns against United States in one semi-final, in March, while Mexico, who overturned a two-goal deficit and defeated Honduras 4-2 on penalty, will meet Panama in the other, much like they did in this year's Gold Cup final.

  Meanwhile, Canada will face Trinidad and Tobago in one Play-In fixture, while Costa Rica and Honduras will meet in the other. The winner of those Play-In contests will qualify for next year's Copa America.

  After taking a 2-1 lead in their rain-interrupted first-leg clash at the National Stadium, Canada pressed that ascendancy at the start in the packed BMO Field and could have easily extended their advantage in the first 15 minutes, but for two incredible saves from Jamaica's goalkeeper Andre Blake.

  The host inevitably got their breakthrough when Davies met a cross from the left and fired a shot that was initially deflected by Blake but spun backward into net.

  Jamaica needed a response and minutes after should have pulled level after the re-start, but Leon Bailey's dry spell in the national setup continued, as he slammed his left-footed shot into crossbar.

  The equalizer eventually came three minutes past the hour when Damion Lowe showed grit to dispossess an opponent and slipped a pass through for Nicholson, who rifled a right-footer past Canada's custodian Milan Borjan.

  With the momentum now in their favour, the Jamaicans took the lead three minutes later on a well-worked counterattack in which Reid found Demarai Gray, and the former Everton mam swept a pass across the 18-yard yard box for the towering Nicholson to finish from close range.

  However, their celebrations were short-lived, as Canada regained the advantage on aggregate soon after when Davies served up a cross for Kone to steer past Blake.

  Still, the Jamaicans pressed and got the golden opportunity to not only pull level, but more importantly go ahead on the away goal rule, when Stephen Eustaquio handled an intended cross from Lowe inside the danger area. Reid stepped up to take the pressure-packed 12-yard kick and calmly converted to silent the home fans, while the small section of Jamaican supporters went into frenzy.

  From there, Jamaica only needed to defend their lines and if that wasn't pressure enough, given their tendency to concede late goals, the task became even more difficult when Gray was shown a second yellow and given marching orders in the 84th minute.

  Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Boyz managed to absorb all that Canada threw at them in the final minutes plus nine minutes of added time to snare a momentous victory.

   

• VPs Sinclair, Rochester take aim at ASAJ leadership as Lyn opts out of re-election

  After serving 14 years as President of the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ), Martin Lyn has opted not to seek re-election, citing the need to refresh and reinvigorate the organisation with new leadership.

  Lyn, whose time at the helm was spread across seven two-year terms, believes he has left the association in good standing with a solid platform on which the next president can build to drive the country’s aquatic sports product forward.

  The new president will be selected at the ASAJ’s Annual General Meeting scheduled for December 5.

  Georgia Sinclair and Lance Rochester, who served as vice presidents with responsibility for swimming and water polo respectively, under Lyn’s leadership, are said to be frontrunners in the race to take the reins.

  “Sometimes you have to know when to step aside and let someone else take over. My accomplishments and achievements speak for themselves, and nobody can dispute the fact that I have done a significant amount of good during my time in charge. I also think it’s time for me to focus on other things as well and also allow the association to grow in a different direction,” Lyn told SportsMax.TV.

  “For the first time in a while, there are people vying for the presidency and it is good that people’s ambitions towards leadership is stimulated. So, I am stepping down to allow the association to grow even bigger and better with fresh ideas because I have left a strong foundation on which the next president can build,” he added.

  According to Lyn, his time at the helm boast outstanding contribution and great personal sacrifice, though his credibility, integrity and, by extension, leadership qualities, have been called into question on a number of occasions.

  “The presidency is not an easy job in any federation. It wasn’t always easy to beg and beseech the minister (of sports) and Sports Development Foundation for funding or even to secure sponsorship, and of course, you and others don’t always see eye-to-eye for various reasons. But we have upgraded the system and most importantly we are in one of the best financial positions that we have been in, in years,” Lyn argued.

  “The day-to-day running of the federation was up and down but the administration performed very well including the disciplinary committee. For the first time in a long time, we don’t have any disciplinary matters pending,” he noted.

  Though celebrating some infrastructure development, as well as the recognition of five Jamaican officials on the World Aquatics list among his achievements, Lyn pointed out that he also had some regrets.

  “Two regrets I have, and one is the fact that I have tried unsuccessfully to change the constitution of the ASAJ so that there are not so many gray areas because in the current constitution, there are a lot of loopholes. But the feedback was that we couldn’t just meet and discuss the constitution, so maybe I was a little premature in my approach, but it is something that I will encourage for the new administration to look at,” Lyn shared without going into details about his other regret, which had to do with how swim meets were conducted.

  That said, Lyn left words of encouragement for the new administration which will boast familiar faces, as treasurer Florence Grizzle-Williams will battle incumbent Shauna Jackson for the post of Honorary Secretary.

  Robyn-Ann Chin-Sang will be running unopposed for Vice-president in charge of artistic swimming, while Marlon McIntyre is the only candidate for the vice-president in charge of water polo.

  Meanwhile, Hilary Brown-Nixon seems set to take the post of vice-president in charge of swimming.

  “The first word of encouragement is to keep the train rolling, because we are on a very good path for success. I have dedicated a lot of time out of my life to do what I did, so which ever candidate takes over, they must be willing to invest the time and effort into moving the sport forward because it is to the benefits of the athletes and more so the country,” he ended.