Sometimes a fighter’s first loss can do more for his future than all of his victories. For Jamaican-American middleweight Daine “Wavey” Smikle (4-1, 1 KO), a hard-fought defeat against unbeaten Douglas Marroquin in July brought his priorities into focus. Now, the boxer is determined to show what he learned when he faces Daniel Sostre (13-31-3) on Saturday, November 7th at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, MA. The matchup is part of Boston Harbor Fight Night 3, a seven-bout card presented by CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions. Tickets to the event are selling fast – purchase yours now at cesfights.com.
The New Haven-based southpaw entered the Marroquin fight following a year of inactivity. The bout was a Connecticut showdown of unbeatens and a clash of styles between the stocky, orthodox Marroquin and the southpaw, slick boxing Smikle. After a closely contested fight, Smikle lost 58-56 on all three scorecards. While he gave up his perfect record, his performance impressed promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. enough to offer Smikle a promotional contract. “Daine showed us something in the Marroquin fight,” said Burchfield Sr. “He stepped in against an unbeaten prospect and gave him a competitive fight from start to finish. We believe in giving talented fighters opportunities, and Daine earned his. Now it’s up to him to build on that performance, and we’re excited to help him take that next step on November 7 at Encore Boston Harbor.”
For a boxer who had spent years moving in and out of the gym, the lesson was clear: talent alone would only take him so far. “That fight taught me a lot about myself,” reflected Smikle of his lone professional setback. “I think it opened my eyes to how staying consistent really matters. I can’t be one foot in and one foot out. I chose to put both feet in going forward.”
While Smikle was able to defeat lower-level opponents despite periods of inactivity, he found that his inconsistent approach would not be enough to overcome top opposition. “Before then, I’d take time off, go back in the ring and feel like nothing happened,” admitted Smikle. “That fight showed me, ‘Now you’re in a different league.’”
Signing with CES Boxing gave Smikle the necessary backing to put that lesson into practice. “When Jimmy offered the contract, I didn’t think twice,” said Smikle. “Growing up in New England, you only heard about CES cards. All the pros I grew up around fought with CES.”
The CES deal offers Smikle something his career has lacked: a path to consistent activity at premier venues, with television exposure. “Not only is it a blessing to be seen live and on TV, but they’re also willing to keep me active,” agreed Smikle. “I think that’s a compliment. They saw something.”
What CES Boxing saw in ‘Wavey’ was the pedigree and skillset developed from a life in boxing - a story that stretches from New Haven, CT to Kingston, Jamaica. A dual citizen of the United States and Jamaica, Smikle was born in New Jersey and began boxing in New Haven, but his connection to the Caribbean island runs deep. His family hails from the St. Andrew area near Kingston, and he grew up making frequent trips to Jamaica to spend time with relatives. “I used to go probably two or three times a year, every year growing up,” said Smikle. “When I got older, I used to stay months and months at a time.”
With most of his family still living in Jamaica, those roots remain a significant part of his life. “My dad is an Olympian. He represented Jamaica in the ’88 Games,” said Smikle. “My mom also grew up in Jamaica. Everyone in my family is from Jamaica. I’m one of the few who was born here.”
It was his father who introduced Smikle to boxing at six years old. The 1988 Jamaican Olympian was coaching boxers in New Haven, and he was intent on his son following in his footsteps. “I didn’t want to box,” laughs Smikle of those early days. “He made me box. Right after school, I’d go with my dad to the gym. I had no say in the matter.”
Sparring and an early taste of success soon changed his mind. “I won my first fight, and I thought, ‘I think I like boxing,’ so I stuck with it.”
Despite beginning his amateur career at eight and accumulating 63 bouts, Smikle acknowledges that his transition to the professional ranks came later than it should have. “I probably should have turned pro a lot sooner,” says Smikle, explaining that he was often frustrated by the lack of cohesion in his career. “I’d fight, then nothing would be offered for a few months. I’d lose momentum, then opportunities would come, and it was, ‘Okay, maybe I’ll come back.’ That’s what that was about.”
With a new promoter backing and guiding his career, Smikle now looks to fast track his development. His next change was to find a new trainer who could take his skills to the next level. Smikle found that in Mark DeLuca, who prepares twice-daily training sessions for Smikle and a growing roster of young fighters at Waymaker Boxing Club in Boston. “I heard he was the real deal, so I came to see, and it was true,” said Smikle of DeLuca. “So I stayed.”
The first assignment for the pair is Sostre, a grizzled veteran who has shared the ring with several New England prospects, including Jaydell Pazmino, Jahyae Brown, and Denzel Whitley. “My coach knows him,” said Smikle. “He gave me the remedy: stay busy, start early and stay consistent.”
At age 32, Smikle feels the urgency of a fighter determined to fulfill his potential. “Oh yeah, it’s time,” agreed Smikle. “I’m 32, and I’ve been doing this long enough. You’re going to see a better me on November 7th. A lot of great things are still to come, and one day everyone will know my name.”
