Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter 
Dussard
JAMAICA's Combined Martial Arts team stamped itself the best team in the Pan Am region last Sunday night by defeating a star-studded United States tae kwon do team in the 'Battle at the Boardwalk', held at the Atlantic City Convention Centre in New Jersey.
Entering the bout as underdogs despite holding an unbeaten streak of 10 international matches, the Jamaicans inflicted an embarrassing 10-2 whipping on the Americans.
Top ranked junior, Nicholas Dussard, gave Jamaica a flying start when he dominated his United States opponent to hand the Combined Team Match One. Dussard literally dismantled his opponent, dazzling him with kicks to the body and head.
EASY OPENING WIN
After Jamaica's easy opening win, unbeaten international Kenneth Edwards, produced a clinical display to dispatch his North American rival in a one-sided encounter. Fighting like a man possessed, Edwards served warning of a return to form following an average 2005 in which he had won one bout and drew two.
Bruce McFarlane followed Edwards and the reigning Seido European champion lived up to his title to easily dispose of the North American's heavyweight fighter.
Down by three fights, the USA staged a strong rally in fights four and five. The hosts sent out their national heavyweight champion to take on Jamaica's Dwayne Brown and a brutal bout was afterwards ruled a draw by the judges.
In a move to halt the USA's rally, Combined Team captain Jason McKay sent out Sean Cummings, who he had previously described as his 'secret weapon'. Cummings, who had minutes before won the heavyweight division at the tournament by defeating the Ukranian national champion in the final, tried his best but had to settle for a draw.
A confident USA then sent out their middleweight champion to which McKay responded by calling on veteran Arthur Barrows, who had earlier won an individual middleweight bronze. Barrows, in vintage fashion, maintained his reputation as one of Jamaica's most reliable fighters by disposing of his opponent, putting Jamaica on an unassailable 10 points with three bouts remaining.
Jamaica attained victory without Omar Rose, Frank Otto or McKay taking the mat.
McKay, who had been harshly criticised locally for accepting the USA challenge amid individual bouts at the tournament, said he felt vindicated.
"I knew there was a disadvantage, but I was never worried," he said. "Jamaica has one of the strongest teams in the world and can only be significantly challenged by North Korea or Poland."
The USA challenge was a major plus for Jamaica, who solidified their Pan-Am top ranking. In addition, it allowed Barrows to secure his spot on the national team after being inactive since July.
The bout also provided invaluable warm-up for Dussard, who is being tipped by McKay as a certainty to be crowned Junior World champion this summer.
