WALTER ALIBEY Sunday, July 16 2006

click on pic to zoom in

MINI-FLYWEIGHT Women's international Boxing Association (WIBA) champion Ria Ramnarine after her victory against Stephanie George of Guyana on Friday n...

RIA RAMNARINE on Friday night became the first local boxer to successfully defend her world title.

She did so at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Auditorium, Saith Park, Chaguanas, defeating Guyana’s Stephanie George in a Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Mini Flyweight championship.

After her victory which was warmly greeted by adoring fans, Ramnarine said that she will probably next fight again against a top opponent in September.

She said that responsibility is in the hands of her manager Barath Ramoutar who she said has been instrumental in helping her win on Friday night.

Ramnarine said she will take a little rest after which it’s back to the drawing board in preparation for her next fight.

At the end of the ten-round contest Ramnarine won the fight by a unanimous decision as the judges called the bout 99-92, 98-92 and 99-91 in her favour.

The result was welcomed by the Carapichaima boxer who has not fought in over a year since winning the title.

Although she looked rusty, the effects of the long lay-off, Ramnarine was able to withstand an aggressive George who came out throwing punches and the aggressor throughout the fight.

Ramnarine said she felt confident after the first round when she rocked George with a left hook but the Guyanese came back strongly in the latter part of the round.

Ramnarine intelligently and skilfully devised a plan to dance around her opponent and connect with her punches since George was content to fight square-on.

George’s attacks were countered with a left or right hook followed by a left or right upper-cut.

Midway in the contest, points were evenly shared with the Guyanese being the aggressor and Ramnarine tagging her around the ring.

The versatile Ramnarine, who also participates in Wrestling, San Shou and Mauy Thai, said she did not really have a game plan.

“All I did was what my coach told me to do and that was all,” Ramnarine said.