Bruce brings home the belt

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 29 August 2016

Bruce Lee Coulson delivered in the ring as promised and returned home with a belt as the winner of the Sugar Bert National Title Belt Qualifiers welterweight division in Georgia over the weekend.

Coulson, who hails from George Town, dispatched his first opponent, Christopher Stewart Jr of Minnesota, by TKO in the second round on Saturday, 27 August at the Lumpkin Center on the Columbus State University campus.

The Caymanian fighter, despite a niggling back injury, dominated from the opening bell, pummelling Stewart Jr with heavy shots to the head and body. With the win, he advanced to fight for the title. He then beat James Harper of Alabama to win the belt, putting him on the canvas in the final round.

“I didn’t get all two of my knockouts but I got one, so it was very decent,” Coulson told reporters upon his arrival at Owen Roberts International Airport on Monday, 29 August. In an interview with CaymanSportsBuzz.com prior to the tournament, he said his plan was to knock out every fighter he faced.

Coach and trainer, Ryan Barrett, was in Coulson’s corner at the tournament. “The first fight, we knew who we had and the style that they would adopt – the Americans, they try to be flashy and slick boxers…Bruce bangs very hard. At 147 [pounds], there won’t be many guys who can stand and trade with him,” he said.

With that assessment, he said their game plan was to attack with straight rights to the head and body, which ultimately paid dividends. “It all paid off for him. The first kid just collapsed, got knocked over [and] got standing [eight] counts. Like I said, we would be coming away with some medals,” Barrett said.

Coulson now gets a week to 10 days’ rest but plans to represent Cayman at the Sugar Bert Boxing Title National Championship in Kissimme, Florida in November. He is also expected to be among the local fighters on a Cayman vs Jamaica card in Kingston prior to that.

“He’s carrying a back injury, which we have been nursing even prior to this fight, so he can have a rest, sort himself out,” Barrett said.

The Brit, who took over as national team coach earlier this year, is happy with what he’s been seeing since he’s been on island.

“Bruce is one of the fighters who trust what I say and following my actions as a coach. It just goes to show on our first away tournament, to come away with a belt is great for Cayman,” the coach, a former English super featherweight and welterweight champion, said.

As for Coulson, he said he hopes his success in the ring will motivate other local boxers. “We do have opportunity. It’s just for us to take it…we just need to build up our confidence and training and push ourselves to where we want to get,” he said.