Belize Boxing Sensation Suffers Devastating First Defeat

Belizean boxing sensation Amir ‘King Mir’ Rudon is on the mend after a tough night in the ring. His shot at the WBC Central American Silver Super Lightweight title ended in heartbreak when Mexican champ Carlos Elvira delivered a crushing defeat. It all happened before a packed house at Swift Hall, where fans came out in full force to cheer on the hometown hero. News Five’s Shane Williams was ringside and brings us the story.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

Amir “King Mir” Rudon sold out Swift Hall for the Mayhem Backa Martin’s. It was standing room only for nine exciting matches between young boxers from Belize and Mexico. The main event of the night was in the super lightweight division with the technically focused Rudon versus the dangerous slugger Carlos Elvira, who entered the match with a ten and two record, eight of those wins coming by knockout. Late in the seventh round with Amir still up on the cards, one of Elvira’s hail Mary’s finally connected and hurt Rudon badly.

 

Amir Rudon, Professional Boxer

“It’s boxing. It only takes one point to change the trajectory of the fight. And that’s what occurred in the seventh round. I got hit with a shot. I got hurt, and then in the eight round he capitalize on that. And then we went out the way you guys saw. But it all happens man. It’s a part of the sport. Nevertheless, my spirits are up. Good spirits. I’m healthy. So that’s the most important thing. And we’ll be back stronger than ever. It’s my first loss in my boxing career. So, since I started at age twelve, I’ve been fighting. I don’t know what losing feels like inside the ring, but I do know now and it changes nothing. The wins didn’t make me so a loss can’t break me. I’m still the same person. I’m humble. I’m in good spirits. I’ll always give you guys the best. And the best is still yet to come for Belizean boxing.”

 

Rudon stayed down for a few minutes, with the force from his heading hitting the canvas being the main cause for concern. Though he recovered in the ring, the medical team felt best to take Rudon out on a stretcher but not before he gave the fans a thumbs up, letting them know he was okay. He told us why that signal was important to him.

 

Amir Rudon

“You guys saw it turn out. I’d like to thank everyone who came out to Swift Hall, all those who watched it at home. They’re the reason why I do it, when I started as a kid. Over twelve years ago. Now the sport is finally starting to get the recognition it deserves and it doesn’t stop here. This is just a small hurdle, a small step back for a major comeback.”

 

And while he may have lost the bout, King Mir won the night, inspiring a whole generation of fighters to take up the sport. Like fourteen-year-old Bryan Garbutt who was so dominant here in round one against his Mexican opponent that he said “No Mas” at the beginning of the second round.

 

Bryan Garbutt, Boxer, Alpha Gym

“When I went out there I saw the victory and I know I had it in my hands”

 

Shane Williams

“So, what was your game plan?”

 

Bryan Garbutt

“My game plan was to just dominate all through.”

 

Shane Williams

“And you put pressure. Were you surprised when he didn’t come back out?”

 

Bryan Garbutt

“No, I was not”

 

We also got to enjoy the second fight and victory of promising youth, Akyl Flowers, who showed off the kind of fast twitch muscle action and extensions trainers look for in his three round amateur match. Winning by unanimous decision.

 

Akil Flowers, Boxer, Alpha Gym

“Feel much better, feel much more strong. The training camp da mi wa solid training camp. Du none stop work, two months non stop miles soh ‘mi ready.”

 

Shane Williams

“In the first round he caught you with a couple hand but you responded well. What were you feeling when he caught you in the first round?”

 

Akil Flowers

“I just mi di tell mi team bout it that how when ih ketch mi with the first shot I mi feel like mi brains gone dizzy but just the think bout everybody weh come support, my ma weh di watch, yo can’t just tek da loss after soh much work weh yo put in.”

 

The next Belizean star may be the one hundred- and thirty-pound WBC Amateur Champion Julian Pacheco Jr., who defended his belt against Mexican Cesar Perez.

 

Julian Pacheco Jr., WBC Amateur Champion, 130 LB

“I work really, really hard for this performance you know. This is one of the hardest I’ve ever worked for one of my fights. It means a lot for me through everything I’ve been through. I remember coming to Belize I didn’t think I would get this opportunity to spar with these great guys, Amir, Sherman, everyone in the Alpha boxing gym. You know, Im really grateful for this.”

 

Though it was a disappointing outing for him, King Mir looks back on the night of exposure for all the young up and coming fighters as a success for Belizean boxing and vows to be back soon, stronger and better than ever. Shane Williams for News Five.