Boxing - Four boxers make it to Friday’s finals |25 July 2019

Hard hitter Agnes turns away after knocking out Reunionnais Ticane

Boxers Andrique Allisop, Shain Boniface, Jovet Jean and Keddy Agnes are in the finals of the 10th Indian Ocean Islands Games’ boxing competition being held In Mauritius.

In the National Boxing Centre in Vacoas yesterday afternoon, Allisop fighting in the light welterweight (64kg) category won 3-2 over Bertrand Pasquin from Reunion. Against an aggressive Pasquin, Allisop opted for a defensive approach and then counterattacked to earn points.

“He kept coming at me at full force even though I kept hitting him and I had to use my experience and techniques against him. This is why I stayed in the corner from time to time just to defend while at the same time I threw some connecting punches at him to earn points,” said Allisop.

He added that he has now switched his concentration on the final with Mauritian champion Louis Colin who knocked out Youssouf Assoumani from Madagascar in the second round of the other semifinal.

The talk of the late evening was the last bout of the semifinals programme when two-time Indian Ocean Islands Games gold medallist and Seychelles flag bearer Keddy Agnes knocked out Romain Ticane from Reunion with a fierce right handed punch on the right jaw in the second minute of the first round of the super heavy weight (+90kg) fight.

The power from the punch stunned the spectators and it took them a few seconds to digest and then to start talking about it, while during that time, the referee attended to the floored Ticane to help him to his corner.

“As he was taller than me, I just studied his movements at first and also took some seconds to feel his punch power. When I noticed it was not that hurtful, I took the opportunity to fight him from inside and I threw some of my best punches and one caught him and this is what happened,” Agnes said.

He said that the final will be a do or die for him as he wants to be champion for the third time. He will meet Keddy Saint Pierre of Mauritius who won bye straight into the final.

Boniface booked his place in the welterweight (69kg) final with a 5-0 victory over Sebastien Hoareau from Reunion. He will now face Merven Clair from Mauritius who also anonymously won his fight over Faly Andrianarison from Madagascar.

Jean was the other boxer to book a place in the final as the referee stopped his lightweight (81kg) fight just seconds into the second round to prevent Jafeta Tsimagniry from Madagascar from taking further punishments.

Jean will next meet Jean Otendy from Mauritius in the final. Otendy won his fight 3-2 over an aggressive Georges Castel from Reunion.

Nelson Molle was the only Seychellois fighter from yesterday’s programme not to make it to the final as he was knocked down by hard hitter François Rabenandrasana from Madagascar half way into the second round of the heavy weight (90kg) fight. Molle was also twice counted in the first round.

Coach Jerry Legras said he was very happy that at least four boxers are in the final and that the team is looking forward to win all four gold medals in the finals.

“I know the final will be tough and we have told them (the boxers) to take no notice of the crowd and to concentrate on their fight,” said coach Legras.

All losers in the semifinals are bronze medal winners, thus Molle has won himself a bronze medal.

On the first day of the competition, July 23, Adrian Volcère fighting in the 75kg was eliminated in the semifinal (2-3) by Tsizaina Ramasoarfi from Madagascar while compatriot Alexson Prudence lost the 60kg quarterfinal bout (0-5) to Ramasoarifidy from Madagascar.

The finals will be held tomorrow, Friday, as from 5pm and Mauritius is being represented in all 10 finals from 49kg to +91kg.

Text and photos Patrick Joubert in Mauritius