Wray and Nephew Contender Series breathes life in Jamaican boxing

In the late 1970’s and the early 1980’s, boxing was one of the major sports on this little island of Jamaica. Known as a set of fiercely competitive people, Jamaica played an integral role in many of the legends of the sport, whether through parentage, heritage, background or upbringing.  Fighters such as Former IBA Champion, Glen Johnson, World Champions, Mike McCallum and Lennox Lewis just to name a few, all had a little Jamaican in them.

The sport, however, lost it popularity on the isle and found itself on the ropes. In 2011 however, Wray and Nephe,w in conjunction with the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC), presented the Contender Series to Jamaica and the country gladly accepted.  At the end of the season, boxing was once again the talk of the town; The Contender was the number 1 watched local TV show and sports idols were being created. Rikardo 'The Surgeon' Smith, Sakima Mullings and Devon Moncrieffe were the boxers whose rose to popularity from the 2011 series.

Ramal "sub-zero" Lewis vs Derrick Spencer

The 2012 series is already on its way and each week, hundreds line up at the Chinese Benevolent Association in attendance, while thousands tune in live on television to the once dying sport of boxing. In an era where technology has dominated and changed all aspects of life, the Jamaican boxing administration failed in their bid to advance with the era. Wray and Nephew, however, launched a new bid in the contender to which the Jamaican public agreed with. Prime Time Boxing came alive every Wednesday night and boxing was again being promoted through all the necessary Channels and mediums like Facebook, Twitter, Television and Newspaper adverts.

The second season is currently in the first round and already, it’s looking to surpass the achievements of the Inaugural season. With the seventh fight coming up, bets are already being placed on who will be this season’s champion. Richard Holmes, Owen Barret and Ramel 'Sub-Zero' Lewis are the favourites so far. It doesn’t matter who wins this season’s Wray and Nephew Contender though, because one thing for sure is that boxing in Jamaica is back to its former glory; alive and kicking.