The reigning American Boxing Confederation Caribbean Champion, Jamaica's Sherikee Moore, will highlight the first female bout set to take place at the next staging of the exciting Wray & Nephew Fight Nights Series set for the Ebony Vale Community Centre in St Catherine on Saturday, October 7, 2023.

Seven other enthralling bouts are slated to take place on the night, but all eyes will be on the first female fight of the series which has been a boost for the sport of boxing on the island. Six professional boxers and 10 amateur boxers will take their enthusiasm and determination to the ring to secure needed wins to advance their careers. This fight features at least three boxers from the neighbouring GC Foster Boxing Gym.

Stephen Jones, President of the Jamaica Boxing Board, has high praises for the series which is sanctioned by his organization.

“From a boxing board perspective, we knew that the Wray & Nephew Fight Night series would create a platform capable of elevating the sport to levels never before seen in the Caribbean. What we didn’t realize is how quickly the impact would be felt since its inception. Female boxing has been the fastest-growing discipline in sport since it was first introduced to the Olympics in 2016, so it’s imperative that we place just as much emphasis on the opportunities provided for our females as we do our males, so having a female bout on the upcoming card will not only entertain but will certainly inspire other females to come on board to make a name for themselves and ultimately their country,” Jones shared.

A 21-year-old student of GC Foster College, Moore is set to compete against Shanika Gordon from the Jamaica Defense Force, and by all indications, the fight is expected to bring tremendous excitement as the both women will get a chance to showcase their talent while trading punches in front of what is expected to be a jam-packed venue.

Moore has been boxing for nine years and was introduced to the sport at a summer boxing camp at the Olympic Gardens Community Centre.

The first-year Massage student has since garnered a record of five wins and two losses in her seven bouts to date, and the featherweight novice is grateful that the Wray & Nephew boxing series is giving her the platform to showcase her talent.

“I think this is a great opportunity not only for us female boxers as we get a chance to show that there are not only male boxers but there are female boxers who are thriving in the sport,” said Moore.

According to Moore, who will be in her second fight since late last year, the opportunity provided by the Jamaica Boxing Board and title sponsors Wray and Nephew who embodies the statement ‘FI WI culture’ has truly been a masterstroke.
“Internationally, there are just three of us that box and I feel that more females should be getting into the sport. This kind of initiative spearheaded by Wray and Nephew cannot come at a better time because as females it is hard to get fights in Jamaica.”

Pavel Smith, Marketing Manager Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum is proud the series will host its first female bout. “The sport of boxing, like Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum a “Fi wi Culture”. The Fight Night series was developed to elevate Jamaican boxing talent and skill. We heartily welcome this first female exhibition as the series expands into parishes across the island.”

Moore, who trains at the Suga Knock Out Gym in Olympic Gardens, says she has benefitted tremendously from getting into the sport on a personal level.

“Since I have been boxing, I have grown more confident and I have started to communicate with others better. I was a shy person, but the sport of boxing has helped me to be more confident and I have gotten better,” Moore noted.

She says she will be ramping up her training in the coming week in preparation for the bout and she hopes to one day take her skills to the highest level.

“I see myself becoming a professional in a few years and one of my other goals is to represent Jamaica at the Olympics. For that to happen, I will need more experience and exposure and I must say a big thank you to Wray and Nephew for giving us the avenue on our journey and ultimate goal,” Moore shared.

Having knocked the proverbial cobwebs from his fist, Jamaica’s Kevin “Bus Boy” Hylton is eagerly anticipating the remainder of the Jamaica Boxing Board (JBB)-sanctioned Wray and Nephew Fight Nights series, as he seeks to possibly end his career on a high.

The journeyman fighter, who was a prominent feature on the now defunct Contender Boxing Series, made a return to the ring for the second Fight Night stop in Arnett Gardens last Saturday, and certainly entertained the large crowd at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Hylton squared up with American Christopher Rodriguez in one of two professional bouts where he displayed improved tactical and technical skills, and surprisingly, took his opponent to the maximum six rounds.

In fact, it was Hylton that held the upper hand at one point, as he registered a knockdown mere seconds into the opening round, and maintained a steady rhythm throughout, though winded at the backend of the fight.

At the end of it, the judges scored the contest a stalemate, moving Hylton's record to seven wins, seven losses and two draws, while Rodriguez remains unbeaten at 12 wins and a draw.

While disappointed that he didn't came out tops, Hylton, now coached by another Contender veteran Ricardo "Surgeon" Smith, expressed pleasure with his performance, especially given the fact that he was given short notice of the fight.

“In my opinion, I won the fight because the knockdown is scored as 10, so I don’t see how it ended as a draw. But I am truly proud of myself for putting in a performance like that, especially because the fight was sudden for me," Hylton told SportsMax.tv. 

With the much-needed run now run now under his belt, Hylton, though reluctant to share his age, admits that he is career is now winding down, and, as such, wants to grasp every opportunity to go out with a bang.

The Wray and Nephew Fight Nights series which started on July 1, at Cling Cling Oval, will continue until 2024, with a pro-am night of boxing matches every six weeks. The next stop is yet to be decided on.

Professional boxers earn a purse starting at $US150 (about J$23,000) per round, with a complete match purse of US$600 (about J$93,000) per bout.

Hylton, who balances a work schedule and training, vowed to continue putting in the work to not only add entertainment value to the programme, but to prove that much has changed in terms of his patient and technique.

“So from here it will be just willpower and determination going forward because I am at an age now where I don’t have much time left in the sport. So I am just trying to make the most of this opportunity as best as I can. I am grabbing it with both hands and will be working even harder going into the next fight," he declared.

Meanwhile, American Rodriguez, who also believes he won the fight, is optimistic of a rematch with Hylton. 

“I think I won it because I was hitting him more, but he got the knockdown and I think that is what evened it out. But I think I landed more punches, and I added more pressure to the fight.

"But it is what it is, I just want to stay more focused and keep my hands up. It was a great learning experience and he was a tough Jamaican guy, so hopefully I can get a rematch, if not, then it is on to the next one," Rodriguez shared.

In the other professional fight, top-rated heavyweight boxer, Jermaine "Breezy" Richards took his record to 4-0, as he bettered debutant Omar ‘Crane’ Headman in a fourth-round technical knockout.

The 34-year-old Richards, who hails from Mountain View, has been a fast-rising sensation, who trains in Colombia where he has significantly improved his craft.

“It’s an elevation of self and talent. Being in Colombia showed me that sometimes you have to leave the nest and really spread your wings and the experiences I’ve had so far is testament to that," he noted.

The Amateur fights were nothing short of exciting, as Chevaun Gordon defeated Everton Levy of Trench Town, while Kevin Brown and Commonwealth Games representative Jerone Ennis, both of Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) Boxing Club, also topped their respective opponent unanimously.

Brown outclassed Kimarley Samuels of Suga Olympics and Ennis was a dominant force against GC Foster's Malcolm Peck.

D’mitri Moore of Hit Box Gym also displayed immense potential in his unanimous decision win over another GC Foster boxer, Daniel-Elijah Linton.

Pavel Smith, Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum, Marketing Manager, stressed the significance of this initiative in creating a platform that allows amateur and professional fighters to compete regularly without needing to travel overseas for opportunities.

"Jamaica has a love affair with boxing and Wray & Nephew remains a bedrock in the advancement of the sport in Jamaica. We noted great support for the boxers at the last event, we reviewed that outing and have made some adjustments to enhance the experience for patrons," Smith said.

"This series gives our talented boxers more opportunities to increase their visibility and fight counts that will, in turn, make them contenders for larger global opportunities," he added.

The Jamaica Boxing Board (JBB) and J. Wray and Nephew Overproof Rum have partnered to stage an eight-month boxing series for amateur and professional boxers with the first bout on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at Cling Cling Oval in Kingston.

The program is designed to create a dynamic platform that enables elite amateur boxers to refine their skills in preparation for international competitions while simultaneously providing professional athletes an opportunity to launch and cultivate their careers in front of their home crowd.

Stephen Jones, President of the Jamaica Boxing Board (JBB) believes the initiative will help re-invigorate the sport in the country.

“By combining our shared vision and expertise, we are confident that this partnership will facilitate the growth and development of boxing in Jamaica, create exciting opportunities for our boxers and continue to positively impact the communities we serve,” Jones said.

“It is only natural to align ourselves with the company that not only helped kick-start this movement but also possesses the means, vision, and determination to actualize our goals of expanding the footprint of boxing both locally and worldwide.”

Meanwhile, J. Wray & Nephew Limited’s Marketing Manager Pavel Smith is elated that the partnership will provide an opportunity for Jamaicans to support the careers of local boxers.

 “Jamaica has a love affair with boxing and Wray & Nephew remains a bedrock in the advancement of the sport in Jamaica,” he said.

“This series gives our talented boxers more opportunities to increase their visibility and fight counts that will, in turn, make them contenders for larger global opportunities.”

The new boxing platform offers talented boxers more than just local recognition. It aims to empower participants to chart a course that leads them all the way to the prestigious world titles. In addition to showcasing boxing talent, the series will foster community cohesion as the fights will be held in communities on a rotational basis every six weeks.

The JBB’s overarching vision has always been to establish Jamaica as a hub for international boxing.

Jones explained that, “We firmly believe that once this endeavor takes flight and garners momentum, ProAm shows will become an enduring fixture in our annual calendar, further solidifying Jamaica's reputation as a global boxing destination.”

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls, silver medallists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England have attracted a lucrative three-year contract from Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum, the company announced on Sunday.