Uncle v Nephew delivers jaw-dropping King of the Rock stickfighting finish in Moruga
In a jaw-dropping finish that kept Moruga on edge until the final strike, King of the Rock champion Selwyn John emerged victorious after facing off against his nephew, Anderson Marcano, in a brutal, blood-soaked championship bout at the National Stick fighting Finals.To the steady, hypnotic rhythm of bongo drums echoing through the Moruga Multipurpose Youth and Sport Facility in St Mary’s, the two men stepped into the gayelle in the wee hours of the morning—blending fierce tradition with deeply personal family ties.
“Hit him, Uncle! Don’t feel sorry!” one relative shouted from the crowd as John and Marcano squared off. The pair had not been on speaking terms for years, and despite blood pouring from wounds on John’s head, Marcano—who lost an eye in a stickfighting accident in 2007—showed no hesitation, pressing the attack relentlessly.The ancient art of kalinda unfolded methodically as the fighters circled each other, drawing screams from spectators each time Marcano’s stick flew from his grasp. When John finally landed his decisive blow, striking Marcano and drawing blood, the crowd erupted in applause, sealing his victory.
Hoisted onto the shoulders of fellow boismen, including Gladiators captain Oneil Odle, a bloodied but resolute John described the win as bittersweet. A four-time champion, he called on the State to provide insurance and sponsorship for stick fighters, arguing that men who risk their lives to preserve culture deserve greater protection and respect.“The money too small, but every year we come and fight. Kalinda is in our blood,” he said.Odle, reflecting on the clash, described it as “a bloody victory.Speaking to Guardian Media after the fight, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Michelle Benjamin said the Government intended to take stickfighting to a global stage through stronger marketing and increased recognition.She added that the State would work toward providing better incentives for boismen, acknowledging their role in safeguarding a powerful cultural legacy.
