Dillon Carew; A Roller Coaster Ride Comes to a Smooth End

Dillon Carew; A Roller Coaster Ride Comes to a Smooth End

By Bernadette Robinson (Feb 21, 2007) Doghouse Boxing

"I am going to win more medals than you, win more trophies than you, go to more games than you, go to the Olympics and win fights," was the promise that a fourteen year old Dillon Carew made to his brother Gordon after wining his first sixteen and under amateur championship.

Carew's passion for boxing is natural. It began in 1984 as his older brother was preparing for the Olympics. At that moment he realized "I can box too." Carew, however, was not allowed to go to the gym because of his small body frame. His brother feared that he would get badly hurt. But once Gordon left for Los Angeles to take part in the Olympics, Carew joined the local boxing gym and started training.

After making it the quarter finals in the Olympics, Gordon returned home to find his little brother excelling in the gym he himself had honed his craft. Gordon was so impressed that he even began to teach his little brother the sport he had mastered over the years. Under Gordon's guidance, Dillon began to compete, and compete well, compiling a 78-6 record over his eight year amateur career (1984-1992).

The pinnacle of Carew's amateur career was his quest for the 1992 Olympic gold medal. At the trials in Argentina, Carew defeated the Light Welterweight Venezuelan, Columbian and Brazilian champ to become the first South American to win gold at the trials. Carew then traveled to Barcelona where he defeated the Santo Domingo Champ and moved on to the next round where he was defeated by the eventual silver medallist, Mark Luduke.

"It was a great experience," said Carew. "I thank my mom and dad. I received tremendous support from my family and could not do so with out them. They made sure I ate and rested properly. My brothers made sure that I trained. If I missed a day of the gym, they would all glove up and I would have to fight them all, one at a time with them rotating shifts. Going to the gym would have been easier than staying home. I feel good because I accomplished my dream and with the help pf my coach, Lennox Daniels."

After his experience in the Olympics, Carew decided that he wanted to get paid for what he did so well, so in 1992, he turned pro. As a pro, Carew took the quick road to success. With his superb boxing skills and vast amateur experience, he steamrolled through his first five opponents, beating them all by knockout. All of the sudden, this hopeful prospect was now a legitimate pro. But in the fall of 1994, Carew would get a phone call that would change his life.

On the phone were the handlers of Glenn Forde, a two time Guyanese national champion. Carew was offered of a chance to battle Forde for the country's lightweight championship. The only catch – the bout was in three weeks.

Many people discouraged Carew from taking the fight. He had never fought past six rounds, and his competition was limited compared to that of Forde. Never one to shy away from a challenge however, Carew took the fight and ended up winning a twelve round point's decision.

After losing his first fight to Moses James in James's hometown of Toronto, Carew returned to Guyana to challenge Guyana's junior welterweight champion, Barrington Cambridge, who was known as one of Guyana's best boxers of the 90's.

"Everybody thought I was crazy going into a fight like that," said Carew. "My own brother thought that I would not beat him. The only two people certain about my victory were me and my coach."

Carew ended up winning his second national title on another twelve round point's decision. The fight was so lopsided that Cambridge went into retirement.

Carew would go on to defend his title in 1999 with a points win over the tough Keith Thomas. He had defeated the best Guyana had to offer in his weight division and no one wanted to fight him. So Carew, being the business minded man he is, began looking at other interests. He began a refrigeration/air conditioning service and a car service, and became a Guyana fight promoter. He soon gave up his junior welterweight title to the top two contenders in his weight class, both of whom he had already bested.

Carew's promotional company began to excel. He promoted Guyana's first female world champion Gwendolyn O'Neil, and began matching local male champions against one another.

Carew continued to run both the refrigeration/air-conditioning and car service companies while promoting fights. This soon came to a halt however, when he and his wife divorced. Carew left the two companies behind. He continued to promote fights and soon he opened a boxing gym with over thirty fighters. Carew was the head coach there, and he produced several amateur and professional champions.

Soon after his divorce, Carew set up base in the United States to resume his boxing career and earn money to invest in other businesses.

After twenty-two years in the sport, Carew has decided to give back to boxing. He currently trains out of Brooklyn's Gleason's gym. He has three amateurs fighting in the New York City 2007 Golden Gloves and he works with former cruiserweight world champion Wayne Braithwaite.

Carew has fought nearly everywhere, doing battle in Europe, Africa, the United States, Canada and Barbados. He has fought six world champions including Ricky Hatton, Meldrick Taylor, Moses James, Leonard Dorin and DeMarcus Corley (twice).