Hassan – the unsung hero of St. Sylvester’s Boxing – by Althaf Nawaz

Hassan - the unsung hero of St. Sylvester's Boxing

Tuan Sabikin Hassan better known as (T.S.Hassan) was one of the best boxers produced by St.Sylvester’s College, Kandy in late 60’s and 70’s, under the coaching of late Derek Raymond who had the vision and the ability to spot the talent of young boxers. Hassan had an unblemished record of remaining undefeated without losing a single bout in his school career from the years 1964 to 1968.

He won the prestigious Stubbs Shield followed by Junior ABA the year after. He was a brilliant close quarter fighter with a power packed right cross. He also won many best boxer trophies and later became an outstanding boxer during the famous Indo-Ceylon School dual meet for M.D Gunesena Trophy, which is one of the pioneer tournaments which has perished from the local boxing calendar which, was instrumental in unearthing the hidden talents from schools boxing arena.

Derek Raymand played a key role in producing many schools national champions where Kandy gained a huge reputation for boxing. He had the vision to develop young schoolboy boxers to snatch the crown from national Olympic boxers. Hassan represented Ceylon Schools from 1964 to 67 and was unbeaten where he faced some tough opponents of the calibre of Indian Vice captain, Prabeer Day where he got the better of him in a tough contest where he was awarded the best Boxers Trophy. In the year 1967 when Prabeer Day

came to Ceylon for the contest, he knocked out his opponent Jeffery VanderstratenSt.Thomas College, MTL) and late L.D Ranasinghe (Royal College) in the first round itself.

Apart from beating Prabeer Day, Hassan also beat famous Indian boxers at that time Kundu and Bosh respectively. He was later heading to grab the national title as a school boy which was Coach Raymonds plan for him to fight H.K Karunaratne before the Olympic trials.

Hassan was a disciplined sportsman who attended training with dedication and care. His main vision was to make sure to do well in the international boxing arena according to Coach Raymond. But his fortunes swung the other way in 1968, when he had a sparring session with the National Champion Derrick Gunasinghe, where he unfortunately got injured during the absence of coach Raymond. He suffered a cut below his eye, which brought an end to his brilliant career. If not for that unfortunate incident, he would have been a brilliant product of Raymond like Malcom Bulner since he was a power packed scientific boxer who never lost a single bout. He will be remembered in the boxing circles as the unsung hero of St. Sylversters College. Up to that point he outplayed all his opponents such as Halaldeen (Zahira College), Ratnapala (Peradeniya central), Jeffery Vandenrstraten (St.Thomas College, MTL), Hans and Ernest Vancuylenberg of St. Michael’s Polwatte.