Sakima Mullings has said that he is not worried about what threat Tsetsi Davis may pose to him in their upcoming Contender Series semifinal bout on July 5.

The two boxers have last faced each other in the 2014 final, when Mullings won by technical knockout (TKO) but Mullings told STAR Sports that he expects a different fight this time around as a lot of time has passed since then.

After Davis’ split decision win over Canada’s Ryan Young on Wednesday, Davis said that he was in better condition now, than he was in his first match this season. This sentiment was shared by many spectators, who said they believed Davis had fought his best fight in many years. Mullings however said that that does not bother him and he will work out a plan for Davis as he continues to scout him.

“We watched the fight and it was a very good fight by Tsetsi Davis,” Mullings told STAR Sports.

“We just have to come up with our game plan to beat him. We’ll watch the tape of the fight again and see if there’s anything that we can pick up from it. But I don’t think there’s much that we can learn from that tape, because that’s Tsetsi Davis fighting an opponent that’s very tall and very rangey. That’s not me. I know that when I fight Tsetsi Davis, it won’t be the same fight because he won’t come with a similar game plan because I’m not that tall of a fighter.”

Davis had recently told STAR Sports that he was motivated to do better in his last fight because he was booed by the crowd during his first.

Mullings, on the other hand, said that though the crowd supports him strongly, he does not pay any attention to what happens outside the ring during his fights.

“I could fight in front of one person or I could fight in front of a million. I listen to one voice, that’s my trainer’s voice, I block out everything else from the crowd. But it’s definitely an advantage having the crowd in your favour because the noise that they make and the reactions they give can sway the judges.”

Source: http://jamaica-star.com/article/sports/20170624/tsetsi-no-threat-mullings

Veteran Team Jamaica boxer and number three seed, Tsetsi “Lights Out” Davis stunned Team Canada’s number two seed Ryan Young with an imperious split decision victory to move into the semi-final stages of the Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum “Best of the Best” 2017 Contender Boxing Series at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium on Wednesday night.

The first leg of the semi-final moves to the Mico College Auditorium on Wednesday, July 5.

The “Best of the Best” Series clash between Jamaican and Canadian boxers will see the winner of Jamaica’s Ultimate Junior Middleweight Contender title pocketing the major share of $3,000,000.

After five pulsating rounds between which gave the audience and boxers alike little time for breathing easy, ring announcer Oliver Hardie sent the near capacity crowd at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium into wild and thunderous rapture with the news that Davis was the winner. This was not surprising.

Judge Lindell Allen scored the bout 50-45, judge Clifford Brown 49-46 for Davis, while judge David Dunbar saw it 48-47 in favour of Young.

It was a victory that was more important from a Jamaican standpoint, by the fact that it ensured Team Jamaica secured the final spot to give them a three-to-one semi-final placing advantage in the series. The Canadian invaders led their Jamaican counterparts five three on placings entering the quarter-final stages of the contest, having their three seeded boxers making it through along with two others.

Judging from the displays by Young and Davis in their opening matches, it would have taken a smart performance as that given by Davis on the night to get past Young, who earlier blasted his way into the quarters with a messy technical knockout result against Ramel Lewis.

On the other hand, Davis escaped with a disputed split decision win against Team Canada’s Dave Leblond. So unconvincing was Davis’ performance on his opening night his opponent, who fought only once before and won, thought that he licked Davis and requested an inquiry from the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control, who promptly turned down the suggestion.

Taking a hint from his under-par showing, Davis and his English trainer Wayne Sharpe went on a rehabilitation training camp and returned in an unbeatable shape.

Davis looked in supreme physical condition and fought likewise, to take out the best of the Canadian warriors from the contest to give Team Jamaica a stranglehold on retaining the Contender title which slipped through the cracks to the USA with DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley who defeated Richard “Boxer” Holmes in last year’s final.

Truth be told, Davis’ performance was by far the best displayed by any Jamaican Contender entrant for the seventh staging.

“I went into the fight with an open mind to fight and let the judges decide. Their decision could be in my favour; it also could be in Ryan Young’s favour. We have different portfolios. Mine is to fight the best I can. Their duty is to judge. Ryan Young is a good fighter, but I did my homework and I got the decision. I am in this for the long haul. Tonight is now behind me. There are still two more sets of fights to go — the semi-final and the final — so it is not over until it’s over,” said Davis.

“Preparation is a key part of boxing and that I will continue to do, to give of my best and let us see where it takes me,” he added in a post-fight interview.

 

Young was not dismayed by his loss. “I had an off night and to add to this, I was affected severely by the heat. However, take nothing from Davis. It was his night and he made the best of it. It happens to all of us in this business of boxing,” Young added.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/davis-puts-out-young-8217-s-light-in-contender-series_102766?profile=1511

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Georgetown, 21 June 2017

#CPL17

Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) is now the signature sponsor of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the fifth edition of the gala Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

This was disclosed by GTT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd on Tuesday June 20, 2017 while speaking at a festive ceremony held at the Presidential Suite of the National Stadium, Providence.

“Our sponsorship of the Amazon Warriors is an expression of GTT’s understanding of the Guyanese heart and passion for sport, especially cricket,” the CEO stated.

“GTT and the Guyana Amazon Warriors will blaze the stands and the grass mound on match days in full party mode. We want everyone to embrace what it means to be an Amazon Warrior,” Nedd added.

In a Carnival-like atmosphere much like what CPL has become famous for, Amazon Warriors Marketing and Media Officer and Assistant Operations Manager, John Ramsingh revealed that the partnership with GTT, whose slogan is to “Do More” would provide more hype to the already exciting cricket tournament. “Our partnership with GTT is aimed at providing more information, more hype, more opportunities to get a chance to see these matches live, and even a chance to interact in person with the International, regional and your own local players.”

Guyana’s Director of Sport, Christopher Jones was enthused about the proceedings since it exemplifies his contention that “government and government alone cannot undertake the development of sport since corporate support is needed.”

Jones congratulated GTT on the venture assuring that there is willingness to lend whatever support is needed to make the Amazon Warriors successful.

The Guyanese telecommunications company also unveiled, the “Amazon Warriors Song,” which is a collaboration between two local music stars, Calvin Burnett and Drew Thoven.

The fifth edition of the Hero CPL will run from August 4 to September 9 and the Warriors will have four home games during the period ofAugust 17 to 22 at the Providence stadium. The Warriors have been one of the most consistent teams in the league reaching three of the four finals to date.

The Guyana-based franchise have welcomed six newcomers in their squad with Afghanistan leg-spinning sensation Rashid Khan heading the list that includes destructive Jamaican wicket-keeper/batsman Chadwick Walton who played for Jamaica Tallawahs in the last four seasons, big-hitting ICC Americas and Jamaica Scorpions List A opener Steven Taylor, Barbados born Trinidad and Tobago Red Force all-rounder Roshon Primus and the Guyanese pair, batsman Gajanand Singh and fast bowler Keon Joseph.

The retained players are Pakistani all-rounder Sohail Tanvir, New Zealand opener Martin Guptill, Australian top-order batsman Chris Lynn, Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Rayad Emrit, Trinidad and Tobago batsman Jason Mohammed, Guyanese trio Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin and Steven Jacobs and Trinidad and Tobago wicketkeeper/batsman Steven Katwaroo.

The finals week of the tournament will take place at the new Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago from September 5 to 9.

About GTT

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is a fixed Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) based in Guyana, South America. It is the largest provider of telecommunication services in Guyana with a subscriber base exceeding three hundred thousand in a country with an average population of seven hundred thousand. Its parent company is the Atlantic Tele-Network.

GTT provides local, long distance and international voice services; they also offer prepaid cards for use with land lines. International voice traffic is carried for GTT by Verizon; international collect calling is provided through agreements with AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Call Home Telecom, Bell Canada, Telus and British Telecom. The Earth Station in Thomas Lands, Georgetown receives and relays international voice and data traffic.

GT&T provides wireless TDMA and GSM services; a prepaid service is also available with the ‘Freedom Phone’ and its prepaid cards. Their data provision is through the GTT Frame Relay Network, hosted with Nortel Solutions. DSL service is available for business and residential customers through their Guyana Online (GOL) service; internet traffic for GTT is handled by UUNET Technologies.

In July 2010, GTT completed Guyana’s first submarine fiber optic cable which was launched under the brand name “emagine”.

ABOUT THE HERO CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE:

 

Since its inception in 2013, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. Over 149 million fans watched the 2016 season, combining broadcast and digital viewership, to make it one of the fastest growing leagues in world cricket. Jamaica Tallawahs are the current Hero CPL champions and the other competing teams are Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, St. Lucia Stars and Trinbago Knight Riders. The 2017 tournament will run from 4 August – 9 September 2017. For further information visit www.cplt20.com.

 

 

-ENDS-

 

For further information please contact:

 

Peter Miller

Mobile: +447769119636

Email: pmiller@cplt20.com

Head of PR and Communications

Hero Caribbean Premier League 

“TSETSI! TSETSI! Tsetsi!” was the constant cry at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium on Hope Road on Wednesday night, as veteran, 39-year-old Jamaican boxer Tsetsi ‘Lights Out’ Davis scored one of his most thrilling victories locally, when he outpunched 32-year-old Canadian Ryan Young over five rounds.

The win by a split decision earned the Jamaica a place in the semi-finals of the 2017 Wray and Nephew Contender boxing series. Judges Lindell Allen 50-45 and Clifford Brown 49-46 voted for him, while Canadian judge Dave Dunbar scored the fight 48-47 for Young. The other semi-finalists are Jamaicans Sakima Mullings and Richard Holmes and Canadian Phil Rose. Davis now has a 18-5 record, while Davis falls to 11-3.

The atmosphere was electric, and fans were on their feet cheering wildly throughout the heart-stopping encounter. For Davis, it was redemption, as in his first fight in the series on April 19, he also won by split decision, but many of the spectators disagreed with that decision.

Even though the scorecards showed another split decision on Wednesday, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind this time around, that Davis was the winner.

Young himself conceded afterwards that “Davis was the man tonight. He had it and I did not. He won and I respect him for the way he fought. We gave the crowd a good show, and made them happy. I enjoyed it, even though I lost.”

Young made it through the preliminary round to the quarter-finals with a win inside the distance over hard-hitting Ramel Lewis, but faltered in the quarter-finals as Davis unleashed a steady barrage of punches that overwhelmed him. Davis was cool under pressure, and was unusually subdued. He and his entourage usually put on a show before his fights, but on Wednesday it was all business. Davis showed very little emotion either before or after the fight, and said that the key to victory this time around was his preparation.

“I deliberately did not talk too much. I wanted this victory to prove a point to all those who criticised me in the first fight. I told you all that I was coming back. I am back now and ready to shoot for the final and the top prize of $2 million,” he said.

He started his march to victory with an aggressive first round, but Young matched him punch for punch and had the edge on the scorecards.

In the second round, Davis exploded. He came in behind the jab, and his hooks to body and head, and the occasionally uppercut, forced Young to defend himself so as to stay in the fray, and the crowd loved every minute of the excellent exchanges. It got more exciting round after round as both men challenged each other, and the cool and methodical Davis kept soaring to a grand crescendo and a well-deserved victory that the crowd enjoyed immensely, and told him so with their cheers.

For Tsetsi, it was a night to remember.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20170623/lights-out-davis-defeats-canadas-young-contender-thriller

Boxer Tsetsi “Lights Out” Davis has an unenviable task of giving Team Jamaica the third spot in the Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum Contender Series when he faces Ryan Young, the Team Canada number two seed, in the last semi-final match on the three-fight card at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium tonight starting at 8:30 pm.

Davis, the number three seed of Team Jamaica, has not fought since his win against Team Canada’s unseeded Dave Leblond in their opening bout in which he had sustained an injury and also raised controversy.

At the weigh-in yesterday, chief handler, trainer Wayne Sharpe told the Jamaica Observer: “My fighter is in more than good shape for his upcoming fight. We just finished quite a good training camp and he is expected to return to the ring in his best fighting shape for his fight against Ryan Young.”

When the Observer arrived for the weighing-in, Young had already weighed-in and left, but judging from his big showing against Ramel Lewis, more fireworks are anticipated as both boxers are reported to be in the best of health for this important last semi-final clash scheduled for approximately 9:45 pm.

This will follow a Wray and Nephew 40-minute entertainment package with on-stage skits and giveaways following one of two amateur fights that open the programme at 8:30 pm.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/tsetsi-davis-looks-to-put-the-lights-out-on-ryan-young_102533?profile=1511

Jamaica’s Tsetsi Davis and Canada’s Ryan Young will trade punches at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium tonight, as they seek the final semi-final spot of the 2017 Wray and Nephew Contender series. Fight time for this junior middleweight, five-round bout is 9:30 p.m. This will be preceded by two amateur bouts, starting at 8:30 pm.

The boxers who have already earned their semi-final spots with hard-earned victories are Jamaicans Sakima Mullings and Richard Holmes and Canadian Phil Rose. Young said yesterday that the added incentive for him to win tonight is to get another Canadian into the final four.

The series this year has produced excellent competition each week, and tonight’s encounter is expected to follow this trend. Davis won his preliminary bout against Canadian David Leblond on April 19, by way of a split decision that evoked discussion for several days. Young had an action-packed fight on May 24 against Jamaica’s Ramel Lewis, whose corner threw in the towel in the third round.

Davis, who is 39, has already made it known that this is his last Contender series. He is hoping to get back to a final for the third time, but Young will be a difficult opponent to get past. Davis has acknowledged this, but he nevertheless oozed confidence yesterday as he made final preparations for tonight.

“I am ready to go, my training has gone well, and all I am thinking about now is victory, ” he stated.

It is an open secret that his training was curtailed for several days because of a shoulder injury he suffered in his first fight, but he told The Gleaner yesterday that he has put that behind him and “had some great sparring sessions last week. I am moving OK, my punches are on the mark and I am good for tomorrow,” he stated.

Wealth Of Experience

With a 17-5 record, he takes a wealth of experience into the ring tonight, but he will need much more to keep a rampaging Young at bay.

The Canadian, who is 32 and has a 11-2 record, said yesterday that he has a much different fight plan for Davis than the one that he had devised for Lewis.

“I watched tapes of his fights, and I know that he likes to come in close and work to the body. I have a plan for that, and I am going to keep moving and make him work very hard.” Continuing he said: “My speed will be a factor, I am much fitter than when I fought here last month and I will be putting a lot of pressure on him. I am very confident of victory, because he will not be able to withstand the pressure that I will be putting on him. I am ready.”

The first prize money is $2 million; the runner-up gets $500,000, third, $250,000; and fourth, $200,000.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20170621/ja-canada-showdown

For Immediate Release 
Port of Spain, Trinidad, 17 June 2017

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is delighted to announce that the finals of the 2017 tournament will take place at the new Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad from 5^th to 9th September. 

The four matches will see the exciting conclusion to the Biggest Party in Sport which will draw in spectators and television viewers from around the world. Trinidad & Tobago is a vibrant hub of Caribbean cricket and will be an ideal host for the finals, that will see the top four teams from the league stage fight it out for the Hero CPL title.

The Brian Lara Cricket Academy is a state-of-the-art 100,000sqft training and competition venue with a capacity of 15,000-seats. This fantastic facility will be hosting its first Hero CPL matches and the teams will be able to make use of the world-class outdoor nets and training complex. The North Tower at the academy also houses the ultra-modern written press and broadcast areas.

Damien O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer of the Hero CPL said: “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing the Hero CPL finals to Trinidad & Tobago. There is nowhere that can host the CPL finals quite like Trinidad & Tobago.  We would like to express out thanks to the Trinidad & Tobago government, especially the Prime Minister, Keith Rowley and the Minister for Youth and Sports, Darryl Smith.

“CPL is without doubt the biggest sports event in the Caribbean and has attracted huge international attention so this is a great opportunity for Trinidad & Tobago to showcase everything that makes this country so special to hundreds of millions of viewers around the world. Sports tourism is now creating lots of much needed jobs in the region and so Trinidad and Tobago are set to really benefit from hosting these games.

“Trinidad and Tobago were fantastic hosts of the 2015 Hero CPL finals and I am sure that the games at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy will be even better in 2017.”

Minister Smith said: “What better tribute could we ask for the Academy’s namesake and the cricket loving citizens of Trinidad & Tobago? The CPL has become a true spectacle for the game and is enjoyed by cricket lovers across the Caribbean and the world. When the CPL officials visited last month and discussions began, I was quietly confident. We will ensure that it will be one of the best finals in the tournament’s history.”

ABOUT THE HERO CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE:

Since its inception in 2013, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. Over 149 million fans watched the 2016 season, combining broadcast and digital viewership, to make it one of the fastest growing leagues in world cricket. Jamaica Tallawahs are the current Hero CPL champions and the other competing teams are Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, St. Lucia Stars and Trinbago Knight Riders. The 2017 tournament will run from 4 August – 9 September 2017. For further information visit www.cplt20.com.

-End-

For further information please contact:

Peter Miller

Mobile: +447769119636

Head of PR and Communications

Hero Caribbean Premier League 

The Honourable Darryl Smith, Minister of Sport & Youth Affairs greets Mrs. Natalie Black-O’Connor, Branding & Hospitality Manager at CPL. 

When destitute, single mother of six Annette Higgins was invited to the launch of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica’s 5K Run/Walk, she had absolutely no idea that the charity group would have announced her as being among the individuals to receive a house from the event which was held on Saturday, May 13.

For the last 15 years, Higgins said that her life has only been going downhill. In addition to living in a structure which is falling apart, all three fathers of her six children, now ages 8, 12, 15, 19, 21 and 23, died during their childhood and left her to care for them, which has resulted in her suffering from depression for years.

“Life has not been easy, but I still give God thanks. My three babyfathers passed away. Gunman did take away one, one died from his appendix burst inside of him, and the last one died from sugar and pressure in the hospital in 2013. After that I have been going through a bad, bad situation,” Higgins, a vendor who mainly sells fruits, said in an interview recently.

“I didn’t know that I would really make it through that period. I was so sick. I lost a lot of weight, frustrated, but by the help of God and with prayer, pastors and my children, I am still here and happy to receive a house.”

Higgins said that she now has no regrets about taking advice from one “Miss Thelma” to journey to FFP Jamaica’s head office. She called numerous times before being shortlisted on the housing recipients’ list and was interviewed for a house. On April 4, at the launch of FFP’s 5K Run/Walk, Higgins was told that she would be the recipient of a two-bedroom house from funds committed by CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank.

A grateful Higgins said: “I’m just feeling overwhelmed. I know that God is a man that name ‘Must Come Through’ and I didn’t stop press until I get through. If you notice, everything wah gwaan right now fi mi, is not me you nuh; it’s God who hear mi cry and my pain, because He knows everything. In everything, I have to big up the Almighty God.”

Now that she has received a house, Higgins said that she and her children will continue working on a plan for their upliftment.

“Right now, I am a person who don’t like beg. I like to ask and work for it. As Matthew 7:7 says, ‘Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you will find.’ Throughout my situation and the challenges I have been through, it has not been easy as a single parent to grow up the children without a father and not working. I don’t believe in walking and begging and we still going through,” she said.

Chairman of FFP Jamaica, Andrew Mahfood, thanked FirstCaribbean Bank for donating the money to build the house for Higgins a few days ahead of the 5K event. He also praised other donors who have committed 40 houses to date to the event.

“When you hear us say that we want to build 100 homes, that’s just a drop in the bucket. We need to build 10,000 homes, because there are tens of thousands of Jamaicans who we have seen and are now on our waiting list who are desperately in need of homes,” Mahfood said at the launch.

Mahfood strongly believes that the goal of constructing 100 houses from the recently held 5K event will be achieved and would be equal to the total number of houses built from the event since its inception in 2015.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/annette-higgins-praises-food-for-the-poor-cibc-for-house_102057?profile=1607