Cayman boxer Briana Kerr, 24, recently made a triumphant international debut, transforming her painful experience of being bullied in school into a successful, official start to her boxing career.
On 30 Aug., Kerr stepped into the ring at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, at the Battle of the Islands tournament for her first official fight since she began the sport.
She not only competed, but dominated, securing a first-round knockout victory with a powerful body shot against her opponent Lyania Richardson from St. Kitts and Nevis. Kerr’s performance earned her the coveted belt for best boxer.
Channelling anger into discipline
Drawing on her personal history of being bullied, Kerr explained that boxing helped her find an alternative way to channel her anger while also teaching her discipline.
“It definitely helped me to release my anger in a different way and it also helped me to become disciplined because, honestly, I was a little bit of a trouble-maker, especially because I have ADHD,” Kerr said.
Kerr’s boxing journey began in 2019 when she started training with coach Floyd Trumpet at the Performance Lab.
That same year, she was part of the Cayman Islands team for the Caribbean Championships in Trinidad, but she didn’t get to fight, as Trumpet said, “She did not get an opponent.”
“She was carded for a few fights since, but the opponents pulled out at the last moment,” he added.
Trumpet said that Kerr took a break from training, but came back to him last year, saying that “she really wanted to box”, so they restarted training five days per week, twice per day.
“We had fights in Jamaica and the Bahamas cancelled again, but we decided that we would still put in the work in developing her skills,” he said.
A breakthrough finally arrived for Kerr, with this fight was offered in Sint Maarten. “We grasped it with both hands,” he said.
‘The way we trained is exactly the way she fought’
Reflecting on the fight, Trumpet said, “She did a great job in that ring, utilising her skills at a level that was above her experience level. Everyone thought she was an experienced boxer. The way we trained is exactly the way she fought.”
Kerr said that her opponent “came in strong”, but she “followed the game plan and saw the opportunity and took the shot”, ultimately giving her the win.
“Our fight plan was perfect. Seeing it unfold exactly the way we train was amazing,” Trumpet said.
Kerr said her dream is to become the first female boxer to represent the Cayman Islands on the world stage, “not just to compete, but to inspire”.
She said she wants to break down barriers, challenge old stereotypes, and show young Caymanian girls that strength, discipline and courage aren’t defined by gender.
“Every time I step into the ring, I’m carrying the hopes of my country with me, and with every round, I’m fighting to make history, not just for myself, but for the next generation,” she said.
