Boxer Brooks wants a rematch

WELTERWEIGHT boxer Waldron Brooks is blaming an unfortunate mix-up with the referee for his defeat last Friday against debutant Michael Springer in Princes Town. And he is calling for a rematch with the former outstanding amateur boxer “as quickly as possible” to reinstate his reputation as one of the most determined boxers in his class locally. “I have been knocked before in the ring but always came back strongly. Besides I have fought better opponents than Springer. He did not deserve to win,” said Brooks, an employee with the Arima Borough Corporation. Brooks was adamant that the technical knockout decision against him in the third of the scheduled four-rounder on Friday was a bad mistake by referee Glen Noel.

“I slipped in the third round and got entangled with the ring ropes. “However I signalled to the referee that I was not hurt and will continue to fight,” said Brooks. “But to my great surprise the referee ran to Springer and raised his hands in victory. I tried to protest but to no avail,” said the former Volunteer Defence Force soldier. Brooks said that he has the greatest respect for Noel whom he described as a “a good referee and a decent person” but maintains that he was deprived of a certain win against the 30-year-old Springer of the Tigers Boxing Gym in Port-of-Spain. “My tactics was to explode in the fourth round and I was working according to that plan until the strange ending,” said Brooks who is attached to the Bio-Mel Gym in Arima.

The 39-year-old who rose to prominence as an amateur fighter under legendary trainer/promoter HA Clarke said he is coming to the end of his career and would like to go out in glory. “I want to fight Springer for the vacant national welterweight title and settle the score once and for all.  “I am going to knock him out this time. I have fought better,” said Brooks. Among his past opponents have been Kevin George, who knocked him down in the first round but came back to defeat; Alric Johnson who also floored him but rallied in the last rounds for a shock win; and Kevin Placide against whom he bounced back late in impressive fashion.

Brooks figures he has won at least half of his 27 professional bouts and among his victories is a memorable clash with Joseph “The Beast” Alexander” which defined his reputation as a tough customer with a “never-say-die” attitude. He said his tough demeanour was fashioned as a soldier participating in the Ultra-Marathon event in which he placed 14th overall and winning the Macqueripe to Teteron Road race three years in a row breaking the race records twice in the process.

Currently Brooks says he has been devoting his time to training several young promising boxers at the Bio-Mel Gym among whom is his 12-year-old son Duke who he says has already impressed and is a winner. But he stressed that he is hurt by the referee’s decision which he insists went the wrong way on Friday night and is looking to have the situation corrected with a rematch. “I am ready for war. I am no quitter and this time it is going to be different. I am confident of beating Springer,” said Brooks.