Lambe wins vacant welterweight title
HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Bermudian Andre Lambe made his 10-year age advantage count as he captured the vacant American Boxing Federation regional welterweight title after defeating American Jose Ceja at The Shed in Dockyard on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old earned a unanimous points victory over Ceja, a 37-year-old Texan called up as a late replacement for Canadian Paul Ispas, who withdrew from the fight at the 11th hour.
Lambe, who improved his professional record to six successive wins, was dominant throughout the contest, knocking down Ceja [1-11-2] twice.
“I knew he would be a tough opponent, and it was a bit of a chess match,” Lambe said afterwards.
“Ispas pulled out the day before the fight. We’re not really sure why. Although Ceja wasn’t eligible for the belt, I still was. All I had to do was make the weight and win the fight.”
Lambe said he has set his sights on winning more regional titles.
“I told people I was going to get these regional belts and make my way towards the bigger ones,” Lambe added. “It’s still very early in my career, and I do have some other regional belts I am eligible for.”
In the main event, Bermudian Nikki Bascome enjoyed a unanimous points win over Canadian Cody Kelly in their eight-round welterweight contest.
Bascome [11-1-0] said relief was his overriding emotion after beating Kelly [4-5-3], having endured a frustrating year, including two postponements after his opponents failed to show up on the island.
Another Bermudian, Michael Parsons, clinched the first victory of his professional career, defeating Jamaican Gregory Miller on points.
“I made out with the win, which was the most important thing for me,” Parsons said.
Southpaw Miller, 40, went into the fight predicting “easy work and I am already thinking about who next”.
The fight took place at the catchweight of 160 after Miller was unable to make the original weight of 154.