Two grudge matches set to feature prominently on five-bout card … DeClou takes on Richmond, Austin faces Gonsalves

COME February 21, boxing fans will be treated to a night of interesting fights as there are two grudge matches on the five-fight card, which will feature Guyana’s Clive `The Punisher’ Atwell taking on Jamaica’s Sakima Mullings for the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) CABOFE junior welterweight title.

The grudge matches will involve Mark Austin and Dexter Gonsalves in an eight- round junior welterweight contest while the other will be between Edmond DeClou and Derick Richmond in another eight-round contest in the middleweight division.
When DeClou and Richmond last met (2013), DeClou, the reigning CABOFE middleweight champion, received a vicious left hook that broke his jaw and the fight was stopped by the referee,
DeClou said he has recovered fully and is 100 percent fit.
“I’m really anxious to get back into the ring and especially against Richmond, since I want to prove that it was a lucky shot that caught me the last time we met,” DeClou stated, adding “I will correct my mistake which was underestimating my opponent, so fighting Derick will not be a walk in the park, but it will definitely be a nightmare for him.”
Richmond, the national super middleweight champion, however, said that he is very confident of defeating DeClou again. “It will be the same as before. I have been training very hard under the guidance of Howard Eastman (former European welterweight champion) and have made remarkable progress since that last fight.”
In the other grudge match, Gonsalves said Austin’s victory over him was a fluke and he is confident of reversing that decision.
Gonsalves said he has been training daily with former Guyana and World Boxing Association welterweight champion Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis and has learnt a lot from the former world champion.
Austin said he is fully fit and will do his best on fight night. “Dexter knows that I’m a very good fighter, I’m not a walkover and difference is I’m in better shape now,” Austin declared.
The other supporting bouts on the card will bring together debutant Keeve Allicock and Quincy Gomes in a four-round lightweight contest, while debutants Travis Fraser and Charwick Estwick will square off in a four-round junior middleweight contest.
Gomes admitted that he never met Allicock when they were both amateur fighters, but he (Gomes) knows that Allicock is a very good fighter. “but for now, I’m not going into the ring to lose, because I have my eyes set on one day becoming a world champion”.
Allicock in response said, “Quincy is a good boxer and he wants to get a title, but he will have to wait until after I beat him. He’s my food.”
Gomes then quickly quipped, “It’s not any kind of food, you will have to take your time when eating it.”

(By Michael DaSilva)

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