It was non-stop action at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium on Wednesday night, as Richard Reittie, a Canada-based Jamaican, scored a razor-thin majority decision over Ricardo Planter to earn himself the first semi-final berth, and a shot at the $1 million first prize, in

the Wray and Nephew

Welterweight Contender series. His record is now 10-2-1, while Planter slipped to 5-6-2.

The scorecards of the judges gave a clear indication of how close the thrill-packed fight was. Judge Keith Brown scored it 58-56 for Reittie, judge Lindell Allen had Planter ahead 58-56 and judge Clifford Brown had Reittie the winner 58-57.

There was expectation in the air as both boxers entered the ring on Wednesday, because of the string of early knockout victories in the eight-week preliminary round of the competition that is being promoted by MJK Productions, with the approval of the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control. Sponsors are Wray and Nephew, Foska Oats and JVJ.

It was obvious from the start of the fight that this would be no one-round blowout, as the two technically sound boxers started testing each other immediately. Both men exchanged pinpointed jabs, and Reittie then shifted his attack to the body. Planter, however, maintained his plan of jabbing to the head, in a brisk and entertaining first round that Reittie won.

He came out confidently in the second with Reittie again making the body his main target, but one sharp jab early in the round snapped back Planter's head. Both men then engaged in counter punching, and exchanged right hooks to the head.

Planter followed up with a left hook to the head, and this was the prelude to a furious exchange of punches just before the round ended. Reittie again had the edge in this round.

Planter came out aggressively in the third, but Reittie pushed him back briefly with a head and body, left-right combination. Planter held on briefly to regain his composure and then came back with blazing fists to take the third.

The next three rounds saw an ebb and flow between the two boxers, who engaged each other throughout, to the delight of the standing room only audience. Neither man was able to dominate the action, and right down to the final bell, it was anyone's fight.