Jermain Mackey is seeking a return to boxing prominence. Not too long ago, he was the best super middleweight in the entire Commonwealth of Nations and a highly regarded fighter throughout the world. 
Three years ago, in May of 2009, when he stopped Emiliano Cavetano at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs Gym for his 18th win against just two losses, Mackey was sitting high as a triple champion. He was the Commonwealth, World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association Caribbean champion.

What a difference the last part of 2009 made for the rangy and once-talented pugilist!

Decisions, I felt were unwise for him (to fight Adonis Stevenson in Canada and Kirt Sinnette in Trinidad), resulted in two stoppage defeats and his career crumbled. The Commonwealth Boxing Council stripped him even though the bout with Stevenson was not for the title. The rule is that once a champion loses to another Commonwealth rated fighter, the championship must be vacated.

He took a sound beating in that Stevenson fight in September of 2009 and just three months later, he was scheduled against Sinnette in the latter's country, Trinidad. There, he lost both regional titles to Sinnette.

Mackey hasn't fought since. His record is still a good one, at 18-5, but he will be 32 on December 27. His last seven fights were hard ones. Mackey won three bouts and lost four times. Perhaps the break away from the ring will prove to be good for him. Hopefully this is the case.

Mackey is a fine young man who unfortunately was not, in my view, steered properly since the last part of 2007. He appears to be operating with a new program now, headed by former Bahamian middleweight champion Elkaener Saunders. The plan is for Mackey to get back into the ring in March of 2012.

The layoff should work in his favor. He has to make ring adjustments however. He has to move more. He has to learn very quickly to slip punches and slide away from his opponents to lessen the impact of punches landed or cause his foes to miss completely.

He proved that he could take a punch. He doesn't need to be taking many more of the rock-solid punches that scored against him, in victories and certainly defeats during the run of his last seven fights.

One of the adjustments he must latch on to is the ability to turn his opponents when they are in close to dilute any offensive threat.

Mackey, I believe, can have about three more good years.

He must make the adjustments, however.

Best wishes to the former Commonwealth champion!
 
 
 
To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at fredericksturrup@gmail.com

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