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Perozzi suffers points setback

Teresa Perozzi was speechless with disappointment after she suffered her second defeat as a professional boxer in the Saturday night bill at Number One Shed.

Perozzi lost on a unanimous points decision after a fiercely fought four-round super middleweight bout against Laura (Lady Ram) Ramsey from Orlando, Florida.

The Bermudian had gone into her fight ranked number five in the world following her victory against Elizabeth Kerin just five weeks ago.

Whether the short time between fights had affected her is debatable, but she clearly finished as the wearier boxer against Ramsey in a clash which didn?t start until 12.15 yesterday morning.

Asked how she felt about the fight moments afterwards, Perozzi said only: ?I don?t feel anything right now.?

The pro fight was top of the Rumble on the Rock bill which also saw Freeman Smith defeat Sharieff Wales to claim the Bermuda Invitational Boxing Council (BIBC) heavyweight belt.

A team of Bermuda amateur boxers also shared the spoils with opponents from Atlanta, Georgia. And the fans got the added treat of seeing 1976 Olympic bronze medallist Clarence Hill return to the ring for the first time in nearly 20 years for a friendly bout against his son Jamar Gibbons.

Perozzi gave as good as she got in the opening two rounds, finding her target with a series of right-hand jabs followed by solid punches with the left.

But Ramsey, whose victory was her second in two professional fights, prevailed in the last two rounds, getting the better of a string of frenzied close exchanges.

When the Floridian caught the home favourite with a couple of punches to the back of the head in the third round, it did not go down well with the referee, nor the partisan crowd of around 1,000.

But the American was much the stronger in the fourth and final round and there was little doubt about who would get the judges? verdict.

Freeman Smith was ecstatic after his revenge victory over the massive Sharieff Wales, following the latter?s knockout victory over Smith last year.

Smith said he had learned from that defeat. ?The last time I fought Sharieff, it was my first fight in three years,? Smith said.

?I was over-zealous and made a mistake. This time, I kept my composure and stuck to my game plan.

?It was a good fight with lots of power and, considering our work commitments and the sacrifices we have to make to train for it, I thought we both put on a good show.?

Smith was always the more mobile of the two fighters, while Wales was unable to land the huge and decisive punch of which he is well capable.

Smith added: ?I felt a bit ring rusty tonight and I feel Bermuda needs more events of this type. It was good to see boxers fighting well against quality opponents and we need more exposure like this.?

The amateurs? match ended with three victories apiece for Bermuda and Atlanta.

Nasid (Ali) Shakir secured the most thrilling home victory. Having survived a standing count in an even first round, Shakir was unstoppable in the second, bombarding opponent Dwayne Hurst with a flurry of punches that prompted the American?s trainer to throw in the towel.

Other Bermuda winners were Derrick Alick, who defeated Jeffery Haysett on points, and Andre Bean, who got the judges? verdict in a competitive bout against Carlos Hernandez.

Jarreau Brown-Rogers lost out against Atlanta?s Davis Harris when referee Anthony Mouchette justifiably stopped the fight in the third round.

Bermuda?s CJ Vincent showed great courage in a frenetic, quick-fire slugging match with Jamar Saunders, even though he came off second best.

And the home crowd showed their displeasure in no uncertain terms, when the judges deemed that Marqus Jackson had got the better of Bermuda?s Bruno Parker in a decision which left the team competition tied.

In an all-local contest, the Controversy gym?s Leo Richardson defeated Joshua Smith of Police gym on points.

Hill was honoured in the ring before the bout against his son and presented with a plaque by Donal Smith of the BIBC before the action started. Bishop Vernon Lambe also spoke, describing Hill, who has come through problems with drug addiction and a spell in prison since winning Bermuda?s only Olympic medal in Montreal, as ?a transformed man?.

Hill, 53, has lost some of his fleet of foot and gained a few pounds since his glory days, but the crowd loved it when he caught Gibbons with a left-right one-two. The fun fight ended with Gibbons chasing his father around the ring.

Hill said afterwards: ?It was great fun to box with my son and it was a bit of an exhibition for people. I?m a little bit tired, but I feel great.?