Bring on Caples again, anytime

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s first and only woman world boxing title holder Ria Ramnarine said she will fight dethroned Yvonne Caples in a rematch any time. In an interview with the newly crown champion, Ramnarine said there was a bittersweet taste in her mouth following widespread criticism about the credibility of the judges decision at the Women’s International Boxing Association mini-flyweight fight at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex on Saturday night. She told Newsday neither she nor her handlers had any influence on the judges, and therefore she had won the fight fair and square.

Ramnarine made it clear,  “Yes I was knocked down in the first round, but there were nine other rounds that followed and from that I knew in my heart that I had won the fight.” She said she felt that way in her heart, “and I will take on Caples at anytime.” The 26-year-old Ramnarine was disappointed with the overall response to her victory. She expressed the view that if the country cannot be proud for her, in what was a hard-fought victory then she does not know what to say. She noted that the win was a major step in her career, having put in so much work to reach where she is right now. The new champ pointed out that when she was in the ring on Saturday night she was not only representing Ria Ramnarine, but also flying the flag of Trinidad and Tobago, “but still no one recognised that on the night.”

Ramnarine said:  “I really wanted to win that fight, more than anything else in the world, and because of that I won.”  She described Caples as a very tricky and awkward fighter who won the support of the majority of the fans after she (Ramnarine) was knocked down. Ramnarine admitted to all that “Caples is a good fighter, no doubt about that, but I was just the better fighter on the night, and that’s just how it goes sometimes. “I feel as though nobody recognised the good things that I had done, as everyone only seems to see the bad.”

Ramnarine claimed that there were lots of people who went to the venue wanting her to lose the fight The talented fighter said that there are a lot of people who have suddenly become boxing experts. But she stated that these are the same people who have done nothing for the sport and can do nothing for the sport. She urged them to get involved in refereeing or even get into the ring and fight and show what they can do. Ramnarine said no one knows about the amount of hours she would put in before she took this giant step in her life.