T&T's Blessing Waldropt went down to American Vershaun Lee by knockout in a bruising Light Welterweight contest in the round of 32 as action continued in the AIBA World Boxing Championship in Belgrade, Serbia, on Saturday afternoon.
Waldropt, a national champion boxer in his class, was up against a physically stronger Lee who appeared to have been set waiting for the big knockout punch. Waldropt looked decent in the first round, moving from side to side and charging ever so often, but he was frequently caught in Lee’s crossfire punches.
Waldropt did land a few punches of his own in the opening round but the American caught him with more telling blows.
The experience of Lee then showed in the second round, as Waldropt sought to make up for lost points in the first round.
As Waldrop charged, he was caught flush with a big right hand that sent him to the canvas more shaken than hurt. He successfully survived a standing eight count, but later in the same round, the American caught him with an even stiffer right-hand punch that left the T&T fighter wobbling before he went to the canvas for a second time.
This time the referee called off the fight with Waldropt hurt.
Afterward, Waldropt’s coach Reynold Cox said it was an experience that his fighter will learn from.
“The guy was a little bit more experienced than he was, but it came down to a simple mistake of Waldropt dropping his hands and was caught with a very good shot which spelled the end for him.
"He was also caught in the first round, but it did not affect him so much. We always tell the boxers that by dropping their hands they may get away with it at the national level, but not at this level at the World Championships,” Cox explained.
With Waldropt losing, it now leaves only Nigel Paul as the lone boxer to carry the red, white, and black of T&T at the championships.
Paul will be up against Ayoub Ghadfa of Spain in a Super Heavyweight division contest on Sunday.
Cox told Guardian Media Sports he believes Paul can do really well in the tournament if he does what he is supposed to do in the fight.
“If he enters the fight with the right frame of mind he can, not only go to the second round but can go all the way to the podium,” Cox said.