By Liam Gordon

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

The long awaited-battle between Floyd Trumpet and Kevin Placide finally took place, with the latter being declared the Fedecaribe Super Welterweight champion after a technical knock out (TKO) on Saturday night at the Jerry Junction Sports Bar, Waterloo, Carapichaima. Placide sufferted a bloody wound above his left eye from what appeared to be a clash of heads in the sixth round. World Boxing Association (WBA) sanctioned supervisor Shivana Inalsingh had the bout stopped after the sixth round ended for the ring doctor to examine and evaluate the injury which was caused by an accidental headbutt. A decision was taken by Inalsingh and conferred to the fight referee McKenzie Granger to stop the fight.
The judges went to the scorecards which had Placide winning five out of the six rounds.  He was declared winner of the ten-round contest infront of a large crowd. There were also five amateur fights which preceded the main event. Speaking after the fight Placide said that the battle became open in the fifth and sixth rounds. “It was a good fight, I got in some punches, and some three in one combo (Jab, hook and cross). In the later stages my opponent would have gotten knocked out and to avoid that he changed his tataics and was looking for an avenue out. He started leaning forward and that’s when I got a headbutt.
The fight supervisor did not allow the fight to continue. I got six stitches for the injury. In response Trumpet said that dispite Placide’s injury his fight plan wasn’t fully executed. “We had a fight plan where I would start slow and build up round-by-round because I felt that he struggled to make weight and his legswould eventually give in. “The fight was open in the fifth and sixth rounds and that’s where we were going at each other.”
Trumpet blamed the styles of the fighters saying when a southpaw and a orthodox boxer clashed cuts were expected, but he was not satisfied with the level of refereeing  He said: “I was advised by some old boxing gurus that the refereeing was not up to standard and that I should appeal the fight. But I am not worrying about that. It was a good fight,  I’m sorry he got injured, but that’s an aspect of the sport” Trumpet continued: “I am in good condition and health, no injuries,  no cuts and bruises. My focus is now on getting an interim title shot and move on with my career from there.” Sharma Stroude, the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control representative for the fight said: “Trumpet displayed professionalism and sportsmanship after the fight and that was outstanding, he must be applauded.  Trumpet also released a statement on his Facebook page congratulating Placide. The statement reads: “To all my fans and supporters I came out not as a champ tonight but in good health and injury free.
“The doctor stopped the fight after the 6th round because of two cuts suffered by Placide. The referee then decided that it was because of an accidental headbutt. So he (Placide) was declared the winner on the judges scorecards. Congrats to the champ.”