Q&A Jacques Deschamps

By Robert Coster
Photos courtesy Jacques Deschamps

Countries of the Caribbean and Central America have produced great boxers in the past and continue to do so in the present. The region is a constant source of new blood and talent for the game of boxing. A question arises at this end of the year: what are the new figures in boxing in the region, what are the problems that confront local promotors and what was the boxing activity in the area in 2011? To answer these queries, Fightnews talked to a knowledgeable source, promoter and manager Jacques Deschamps, a man who has put up boxing shows in Jamaica, Haiti and Panama and has followed the evolution of boxing in the region for more than 35 years.

Jacques, when we talk of the Caribbean and Central America in 2011, do the countries of the area face some common problems or should we look at the case of each country distinctively?

First, we have to consider the reality of the countries of the area as separate from the case of Puerto Rico which is a US territory and has a different dynamic. When we talk about boxing in the region, I propose to consider the following countries: Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti and Guyana. And, yes, these countries share common problems and are distinct at the same time.

So, what common problems do countries of the area share? What problems do the boxing promotors face?

I see three main problems that affect local promoters: 1) A problem of currency. Except for the case of Panama where the dollar is in use, promoters have to purchase dollars to put up international cards. It obviously increases the costs tremendously. 2) The promotor depends only on the live gate and sponsors. Unlike the USA, we cannot count on TV as a source of revenue–TV stations pay for baseball or soccer but not for boxing. 3) Other sports syphon off youngsters who might otherwise go into boxing; in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, its baseball; its soccer in Nicaragua and Costa Rica: cricket or track and field in Jamaica.

Who do you see as the major boxing figures and prospects in 2011?

Nicaragua has two great little warriors: Roman Gonzalez and Carlos Buitrago. Unluckily, I say little–the lower weights–and that limits their appeal outside of their country. Costa Rica has WBA Interim junior lightweight Champion Bryan Vasquez–he has to be tested against tough opposition. Panama has three world champions–Anselmo Moreno, Guillermo Jones and Celestino Caballero but both Jones and Caballero are getting on. Venezuela has WBA Interim Champions–Johan Perez and Liborio Solis. I see Perez as being attractive for US TV–he has talent and is in a good weight class. The Dominican Republic has Javier Fortuna and Yenifel Vicente.We must also take note of the return to ring activity of Joan Guzman and Elio Rojas. Jamaica has top Featherweight contender Nicholas Walters.

Now could you analyze the state of the game, country by country?

Sure. The leader of the pack has to be Panama which has become a magnet for other boxers from Venezuela, Jamaica, Haiti. Panama has an excellent promoter in Rogelio Espino and Anselmo Moreno made a great entry on US TV with his victory over Darchynian. Panama doesn’t have the currency problem thing since the dollar is in use there. The big problem is that I don’t see any upcoming talent of note outside of the three reigning champions. No paying TV there either and fewer sponsors. As a promotor there, I was affected by an economic downturn.

What about the other countries, how do they fare?

Let us see. Venezuela: boxers there have had to move to Panama. Very few shows locally. Nicaragua–an active year but limited by the economic crisis in that country. Costa Rica: few shows but they do have a male( Bryan Vasquez) and female( Hana Gabriel) Champions. The Dominican Republic: plenty of low-level shows, most of them free at the gate! Puerto Rican boxers go there to pad their records vs nondescript opposition. Yenifel Vicente is the only local young prospect that has stayed in the country. Others like Javier Fortuna, Olympians Juan Carlos Payano and Claudio Marrero are fighting in the USA. And then there are two Caribbean islands wth almost no boxing activity but with the potential to develop

And these are?

For one, Jamaica, an island that once produced great boxers. Boxing made a return to this island with a contender type series and a Fedelatin title card with WBA #2 contender Nicholas Walters. There are Middleweight prospects Rikardo Smith and Sakima Mullings. The problem, again, is money and also a lack of experienced promotors. Gone are the days of Lucien Chen and Felix Smith (with whom I learned the trade). Hopefully, boxing will return to Jamaica. As for Haiti, the economic situation is the biggest barrier. There are US boxers of Haitian origin that could fight there and there is lightweight prospect Evens Pierre(20-1) who fights in Panama. And, yours truly, is the only promotor able to put up a card there ( laughs).

What do you wish for boxing in the region in 2012?

That pro boxing returns to Cuba. But I don’t think it will happen until there is some significative political evolution there. It will be great though when it does happen.

January 1st, 2012

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