SPORT 13
TORRES NEWS THURSDAY 15 JUNE 2023
Cedar plays enabling role
BY VELMA GARA
Thomas Warria, Scooter Hooper & Phillip Holiday.
Warria inspires despite loss STORY AND PICS BY ALF WILSON Power punching Mabuiag Islander Thomas Warria may have lost his main event heavyweight bout in Townsville last Saturday night but pundits say he is an inspiration who is attracting young Torres Strait Islander boxers to the sport. The 28-year-old Warria lost on points to Lachlan Duncombe in the main amateur bouts dubbed “The Trilogy” during the Battle of the Port tournament at Quayside terminal. A huge crowd watched the 10 amateur and two professional bouts. Proudly wearing a shirt with a Torres Strait flag on it, it was his third bout after an 18 month layoff due to injury. Warria was trained by Hayden Hooper, who said it was also the third time he had fought Duncombe. “They are closely matched and, on this occasion, Duncombe started strongly in the first of four rounds and led well on points,”
Hooper said. “But Thomas did well and finished strongly in the last two.” For this bout, Warria weighed in at 104kg and Duncombe at 96kg. At his previous bout at Cairns in April, Warria defeated Mick Rangui. Hooper said Warria has attracted about 12 young TS boxers to his club including brothers Adam (16) and Khalon Brown (14). “They have had six fights between them and won all,” he said. From a big boxing family, Hooper said that a big contingent of youngsters with Saibai descent were training at his gym. “There is young Fred Babia and his brother Asu who are doing well,” he said. “The others are relatives who haven’t fought yet but will soon. “They all have the Torres Strait connections and look up to Thomas as their role model.” Warria told the Torres News he was inspired by a recent trip back to Waiben and Badu where
he got to see many family and friends. “I am closely related to the Seriat family on TI and the Warria family on Badu,” he said. “It was great to see them all again. I didn’t make it back to Mabuiag but will do that soon.” He said he would also have some more amateur bouts soon and was aiming for a State Title win. “I want to turn professional next year,” he said. Saibai Island has produced some great boxers including former amateur and professional champion Arama Tabuai. Sunstate Amateur Boxing League President Scooter Hooper said Warria would get better with more bouts. Warria said he was delighted to meet and talk to Phillip Holiday who won the IBF world lightweight Title in 1995. The main professional bout last Saturday saw undefeated Jalen “The Wolf’ Tait beat Palm Islander Patrick Clarke by unanimous points over eight hard rounds.
Guard Chris Cedar showed his experience last weekend which enabled his team South West Metro to get two wins in Round 11 of the NBL1 North competition. Cedar was elevated to the Pirates starting five on Sunday in their 13-point win against Red City Roar, 91-78. His tally was 7 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. The previous night, off the bench, Cedar had an outstanding game with six 3-pointers including one shot from the halfway line. He scored 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists to help their win against the Darwin Salties, 102-96. The Pirates women’s team also had wins against Roar (82-74) and Salties (83-75). Guard Alana Fraser started in both games and played well. Her totals over the weekend were 16 points and 9 rebounds. It was a big weekend for the Salties to travel interstate and play three games in three days. The women’s results were a win against Gold Coast Rollers but losses to Pirates and North Gold Coast on Sunday. Salties men lost all three games and centre Nathan Jawai travelled with the team but didn’t get any court time. However, they will have a rest in Round 12 and return to play the following week against Northside Wizards at home.
In other results… Southern Districts Spartans point guard, Jessica McDowell-White, shot
five 3-pointers and her total was 19 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists in her team’s one point win against USC Rip City, 65-64. Rip City men’s team had a mixed weekend with a loss to Spartans (89-80) and a win against the Wizards (86-85). Guard Verle Williams started in both games and his totals for the weekend were 16 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Wizards, Deshawn Ross-Paiwan, had 13 points and 3 rebounds. As for Cairns, both teams got the home wins against the visiting team, Sunshine Coast Phoenix. The Dolphins won 101-93 and guard Teyahna Bond had returned from an NBA Camp. Centre LJ Williams had 26 points and 11 rebounds including eight offensive rebounds and guard Shaneice Swain contributed 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Marlins had a close game and got the win, 86-82. Cairns will be on a three game road trip this weekend to play against Roar, Logan Thunder and Ipswich Force. Michael Cedar, older brother to Chris, played hard on Friday night to get the win as his team, Townsville Heat, had been in a slump - not winning for a game since Round 3 against Brisbane Capitals. They fell short and lost to SC Phoenix, 100-113. Cedar had 29 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. He shot four 3-pointers with two of them way beyond the arc. Townsville Flames had a home win, 78-67. Indiah Bowyer had 11 points and 4 rebounds. In her first home game since she returned from US college, forward Alex Fowler had 14 points, 16 rebounds and five assists. Mackay will be travelling north to play against Townsville on Saturday night.
Much loved ‘Uncle Ray’ will be much-missed
Uncle Ray Dennis with renowned boxing referee Greven Breadsell. STORY AND PICS BY ALF WILSON The late and great Palm Island boxing trainer Uncle Ray Dennis passed away on 1 June and will be sadly missed. Uncle Ray was highly respected on Palm Island and beyond, and he died on his beloved island home. Uncle Ray trained an amazing 68 Australian, 70 Queensland and more than
100 Golden Gloves boxing champions since arriving on Palm Island in 1999. His charges included members of the fighting Sam family, Geia, Oui, Baira and Nona pugulists. Uncle Ray was a big fan of the Waiben’s Zenadth Kes Boxing Club. Octogenarian Uncle Ray celebrated his 86th birthday on 30 March this year. Age and illness may have slowed him in recent years, but he remained very much a
Uncle Ray on Palm during 2018 centenary celebrations holds his Queensland Boxing Hall of Fame award trophy.
Jake Cassady, boxer Reggie Palm Island & Uncle Ray.
part of his local community. He lived in a room which was part of the Barge Terminal, near the end of the Reel Women jetty. “I used to train in a tin shed at the local Barracudas Rugby League Oval which was often very hot,” he said. “After my first three months in 1999 we took 11 Palm boxers to Proserpine for a State of Origin tournament fought between Queensland and NSW fighters.
Lenoy, Esrom Geia, Pita Bourne, Patrick Clarke, Selwyn Seaton, Hosea Murphy, Assan Sam, Joey Geia, Patrick Clarke, Levi Baira, Reggie Palm Island, John Baira, David Baira, Telstan Sibley, Ebanese Oui, David Sam, Alex Dennis, Joshua Geia, Alfie Clay, Gerald Wotton, Thomas Tanner and Peter Bonner all trained under Ray’s guidance. Peter Bonner won many amateur bouts and also was
“The lads won 10 of their 11 bouts and Robert Haines was judged the best senior boxer and Ted Nona the best junior. “That was a good start to my career on Palm.” He said there were several boxers who qualified as the “best”. “Luke Lenoy was most likely the best I trained on Palm, he won over 60 bouts including three Australian Titles,” he said. Peter Bonner, Luke
victorious in his professional debut in 2008. Over the years Uncle Ray also trained quality Palm Island female boxers of whom he said Noby Clay was the best. “Even though she was small and fought many opponents who outweighed her by kilograms she had a good win record,” he said. He also trained Seneva Baira, Kathleen Haines and Josie Nallajar. RIP Uncle Ray.
