For the first time in over six years, the Cayman Islands Elite Boxing Federation will be sending a team of amateur fighters to the US for competition.
With national pride, four Caymanian boxers – Matthew Thompson, Demar Robinson, Isaiah Hurlston and Phillip Serrato Livingston Barnett – will touch down in Orlando, Florida, for an in-house fight night hosted by Hayemaker Promotions on 8 March.
Their travels come on the heels of Jaden Eccleston, who represents Cayman and Jamaica, picking up his second professional win after battering Kevonna Willis in the main event at the ‘Futures: A Gloves Over Guns Initiative’ fight night.
Thompson, Robinson, Hurlston and Livingston Barnett will look to keep the international wins rolling in for Cayman. Head coach at the D. Dalmain Ebanks Boxing Gymnasium, Philmore Barnett, has no doubts that his boxers will get their hands raised.
“I know they have a great future ahead of them. They’re looking sharp right now. They’re training very hard, and I know they’re ready and they are going to perform. I am looking forward to seeing them in the ring and see them come out successful,” Barnett told the Compass.
While there have been Caymanians who have fought abroad in recent years, there hasn’t been a team of boxers assembled to travel since the 2019 Caribbean Boxing Championships.
However, Coach Barnett is looking to change that.
“This has been my idea. I’ve been doing work at the gym now for the last seven months and the guys haven’t been active. They’ve been on the shelf for a little while,” he said, adding that another overseas event is scheduled for August.
The team leader for the trip is undefeated 3-0 Thompson, who told the Compass that he isn’t feeling any additional pressure and is ready to enter the battlefield with his team for “war”.
“We all go to war with each other. We know that we are ready,” Thompson said, adding that he and his teammates have no reason to fear anyone.
“You can’t be scared of anybody,” he said.
“I’m taking it a lot more serious now. My coach, he’s very old school, and he has a hard regiment going for us. I feel the most prepared for this fight than any of my fights,” he added.
Coach Barnett’s son Livingston Barnett will be making his amateur debut. His father claimed his offspring has natural skills and heart that exceeds his experience in the ring.
“He’s very sharp, he’s looking very good and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do,” Barnett said.
