Plans for boxing to enjoy a triumphant return in Dominican Republic have been dealt a knockout blow by the local government.
A show due to have taken place this Saturday at Coliseo Carlos ‘Teo’ Cruz in the nation’s capital of Santo Domingo has been postponed at the 11th hour, the latest casualty of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The decision to call off the event came from the national government. Danilo Diaz, the sports minister for D.R. announced via press release that all sports in country will remain suspended through at least June 3.
The decision from above trumped efforts by event promoter Belgica Peña of Shuan Boxing, who has worked tirelessly with local officials along with the World Boxing Association (WBA) who provided the safety protocol for which Saturday’s card was to follow.
Former two-time junior bantamweight title challenger Norbelto Jimenez (29-9-5, 16KOs) was scheduled to face countryman Eliezer Aquino (21-4-1, 14KOs) in the main event of a show that was to air on ESPN Deportes. Instead, both boxers along with the other 10 participants on the card are left with nothing to show for weeks’ worth of training, other than proof that none have contracted the coronavirus.
All parties were tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday. According to Peña, all tests came back negative, with the second wave of health screenings to have come at Friday’s weigh-in. Sources on the ground suggest that all participants weren’t having any trouble with weight and that everything seemed to be smooth heading into the weekend.
Unfortunately, the call to pull the plug came from authorities well beyond their reach. The decision was made event as the hosting venue was being disinfected from roof to ground.
The event was formally announced on May 5, seemingly with the blessing of the local government. That decision changed in an instant on Thursday, likely due to the nation’s inability to flatten the curve.
At the time of the initial announcement, D.R. carried a total of 8,480 positive test cases for COVID-19. That number has nearly doubled in the three weeks since then, with more than 16,000 total cases reported in country as this goes to publish.
Despite the best efforts followed by Peña and her team, the only way that the show can proceed as planned is with the blessing of the Ministry of Sports or the national Center for Prevention and Control can grant authorization. According to ESPN Deportes’ Armando Soldevila, that necessary step has not taken place.
Jimenez has twice come up short in bids for a 115-pound title, although it was his first effort that allowed him to rise to prominence. The hard-luck contender traveled to the Tokyo, Japan hometown of then-titlist Kohei Kono, against whom he fought to a well-earned 12-round draw in their New Year’s Eve 2014 title fight.
The feat was part of a 30-fight unbeaten streak for Jimenez, who stumbled out to a 2-8-1 career start before gutting his team which allowed his career to since soar. The eight-year, 30-fight stretch came to a close following a 12-round loss to then-unbeaten titlist Kal Yafai last June in Providence, Rhode Island. Jimenez has since fought to a 10-round draw versus Aliu Bamidele Lasisi this past March in Dubai.
His bout with Aquino was to have served as a rematch to their May 2013 encounter, where they fought to a technical draw. Aquino was undefeated at the time, but is just 7-4 since then although coming off of a knockout win last November in Santo Domingo.
Saturday’s card would have been the first in Dominican Republic since February 22, as well as the first to be made available to U.S. televised audience since April 25 when ESPN Deportes carried a show live from Nicaragua courtesy of local network Canal 6.
No official word has been offered as to whether the event handlers will seek to reschedule once local government revisits plans to lift its current suspension on June 3. Efforts made by BoxingScene.com to reach Peña for further clarification were unsuccessful as this goes to publish.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox