NASSAU, Bahamas, July 29, CMC – Unbeaten Bahamian Jermaine Mackey secured his first major professional boxing title when he beat Barbadian Marcus Thomas on a fourth round technical knockout to capture the vacant Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) super middleweight title on Friday night.
Mackey scored knockdowns in the second and fourth rounds against the previously unbeaten Thomas before referee Matthew Rolle stopped the scheduled 12-round contest at one minute nine seconds of round four at the Raddison Cable Beach Resort.
With the victory, the 26-year-old Mackey improved his ring record to 11-0 with nine knockouts, and Thomas dropped to eight wins (four knockouts) against one loss.
Thomas, inactive — because of injuries — for more than a year, during which he was stripped of the CABOFE belt because of failure to defend the title, struggled early against his younger opponent.
Mackey, who captured the Bahamas national super middleweight title in May last year, floored Thomas in the second round and was in complete control with a barrage of punches when the bell sounded to end round three.
He dropped Thomas again early in round four and referee Rolle halted the contest soon after.
At 166 pounds, Mackey outweighed Thomas by five pounds for their clash of undefeated boxers, both with outstanding amateur records.
Thomas is one of the most successful boxers in the history of the Caribbean Boxing Association (CABA) championship with eight gold medals. He won the CABOFE title in November 2003 when he defeated Trinidad and Tobago’s Garfield Quashie on points at the Wildey Gymnasium in Barbados but was stripped of the belt recently because of his inactivity.
Mackey is also a multiple CABA champion and “Outstanding Boxer” award winner, and his handlers are now aiming for a Commonwealth title.
“We’re going to target him for Commonwealth title and try to get him in the (world) rankings, hopefully to get a world title shot next year,” Michelle Minus, of First Class Promotions, told CMC Sport.
John Trotman, another Barbadian, also lost on the card, beaten in two rounds by new FedeCaribe lightweight champion Meacher Major, of the Bahamas.