By Terrence Esseboom
On October 19, 1979, one of Guyana’s renowned boxers, Patrick Forde, faced off with American, Cecil Fernandes. Forde had, up to then, sported an impeccable 12-0 record, chalking up 10 knockouts in the process.
Fernandes, on the other hand, was a professional debutant. The lanky Guyanese pugilist needed a mere four rounds to reduce his opponent to a crumpled heap on the canvas.
Unfortunately, that was not the end of the story; Fernandes remained in a stricken state long after the knockout, and later, after local doctors admitted defeat, a decision was made to medivac the stricken Fernandes to the United States. Midway into the journey, he succumbed to his injuries.
It was around that time that Michael Benjamin, merely thirteen-years old, was contemplating becoming a boxer. His very first punch was effected at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, where he procured his secondary education, under the tutelage of the former British Empire title contender, Clifford Matthew Anderson, popularly known as ‘Cliff.’
Naturally, after witnessing the dangers of the sport, Benjamin’s enthusiasm was daunted but, as explained during a chat with this Sportslife360, “That phase soon passed and I was ready to throw my first punch.”
Benjamin’s fistic journey is indeed intriguing and over time, I will attempt to travel with him as he recounts both, the glorious and inglorious moments, participating in a sport of fluctuating fortunes that has shaped, not only his boxing career but his general lifestyle.
Naturally, readers relish a recitation of the embryonic years, known to be the toughest in any useful endeavour, much less the fistic sport of boxing. Firstly a confession; the recitations may appear to be lacking chronologically but rest assured, the pieces will blend beautifully as this former Guyanese boxing champion regurgitates those bitter/sweet years and presents a sneak peek into that part of his professional life that many swore to have known.
Short and stocky, Benjamin’s journey commenced as an amateur pugilist in the Under-16 category, way back in 1978. His first bout was an exhibition affair at his alma mater, North Ruimveldt Multilateral School fondly called ‘Multi’, located in the capital, Georgetown.
It was during the annual National Exhibition, staged by the then government at Multi and Back School, as the East Ruimveldt Secondary School was dubbed) that the very sign of his immortality – pardon the strong language – occurred when he was debarred from competing at the National Novices Championships, the introductory championships after the Under-16 level because he was considered a seasoned contender.
We will provide snippets of his amateur career in subsequent editions but for now, we will enter the ring with a fighter whose professional career has inspired many and built up their hopes that he would have been the first boxer to gift Guyana with a world title.
Merely one year after stripping his shirt, Benjamin had chalked up an impressive 8-0 record, 6 of them were abbreviated. He then journeyed to Canada in August 1987 and suffered his first loss to Victorio Belcher at the Quinte Sports Centre, Bellville Ontario.
Shortly after his return to Guyana, Benjamin faced off with Jeff Roberts on November 1, 1987, at what was then called the National Sports Hall, known today as the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue, also Georgetown. After 12 grueling rounds, Benjamin was declared ‘winner and new lightweight champion of Guyana.’
It was his first title fight, dubbed as memorable by dint of the interest it generated in and out of the ring.
“That fight featured vastly contrasting styles between two of Guyana’s top pugilists. The fans were divided over the decision and outside of the ring the storm of controversy brewed and swirled around long after the curtains were drawn. To say that the decision triggered heated debates that magnified into fistic encounters is putting it mildly,” Benjamin recounted in response to a question from ‘Sportslife 360.’
The split-decision victory over the skillful, fleet-footed, elegant Roberts “caused great controversy among the fans for weeks on end,” he recalled. The closeness of the bout was reflected in the scores. Two judges scored the fight 114-113 and 116-114 in favour of Benjamin while the third judge registered a stalemate, 114-114.
“Jeff was a classy boxer (and) I was rough and tumble so naturally, the contrast (in styles) led to the dispute,” Benjamin reasoned.
“A rematch was immediately mooted but for some inexplicable reason it never materialized. I was prepared to once again throw down the gauntlet but negotiations simply fell through,” he mused aloud.
Three years later, on May 27, 1990, after winning the Lightweight championship, Benjamin stepped up two divisions, as a welterweight, in what was undoubtedly his most memorable bout, against Barrington Cambridge.
Known for his highly concentrative ability and immaculate defensive skills, Cambridge matched Benjamin’s aggression and almost had him midway into the seventh round after delivering a chopping blow that landed on Benjamin’s temple and had him on wobbly legs.
The crowd screamed in delight when it appeared that Benjie was on the verge of a knockout.
“I was dazed and disoriented, my legs were wobbling and the round still had another minute or so,” Benjamin recounted.
He said that he managed to weather the storm and when the bell sounded to end the round, his chief handler, former world rater, Patrick Forde, sprang into action and virtually lifted him to his corner for that all-important 60-second respite.
“Patrick drummed instructions into my head, “This coming round, you’ll dance around and get a breather,” he bellowed. I had been reduced to a state of desperation and had other plans; I decided to give it my best shot….do or die.”
When the bell sounded, the large crowd was left agape when, instead of recoiling, Benjamin attacked Cambridge with what he referred to as ‘punches in bunches.’ Cambridge was forced to resort to defensive tactics as punches rained upon his defenseless body and head.
Referee Eion Jardine kept a close eye on the proceedings and following a series of non-responsive overhand rights and left hooks, to Cambridge’s defenseless head, Jardine jumped in and waved off the proceedings.
My column will profile some of the country’s platinum boxers. We start with the fistic journey of, undoubtedly, one of Guyana’s gifted and controversial pugilists who was so deadly, that he earned the sobriquet, Mike ‘Tyson’ Benjamin.
Benjamin jocularly recalled, a discourse he had with the late Caesar Barrow whose training regimen was extremely demanding. “One morning, after a hectic road session that seemed never-ending, I blurted, “Man Caesar Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know.” Without missing a beat, that sassy old man replied, “That’s because I was not the contractor.” And then for full measure, he says, “I ain’t asking for much; I only want you all to render unto Caesar what’s Caesar’s.”
