ANDREW ‘Sixhead’ Lewis fought and recorded a TKO victory over James Page on February 17, 2001 to win the World Boxing Association welterweight title, while Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Brathwaite knocked out Italy’s Vincenzo Cantatore on October 11 2002, to claim the World Boxing Council (WBC) cruiserweight title.Come Saturday the May 24, 2014, Guyana’s 25-year-old triple title-holder Clive ‘Wonder Kid’ Atwell, will be looking to become the third boxer from the Land of Many Waters to win a world title, when he goes up against reigning WBC featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez in Mexico.
This was disclosed at a press conference held in the offices of Guyana Boxing Board of Control/World Boxing Council/Caribbean Boxing Federation (GBBC/’WBC/CAOBFE) president, Peter Abdool, yesterday morning, with Atwell and two of his managers, Andrew Arjoon and Ronald Burch-Smith, present.
Also present at the announcement were Neil Kumar, Director of Sport within the National Sports Commission (NSC), Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore, one of the best super bantamweight pugilists Guyana has ever produced and members of the media.
“I wish if we can carry this fight in Guyana, but I don’t think we can afford it because I am afraid of the response from the public as it relates to supporting the event.
“Atwell’s record is 12-1 and he is highly regarded over in Mexico. I think they saw him fight Rafael Hernandez for the WBC/CABOFE title and asked for him to fight, so Arjoon and Burch-Smith of Dog Pound Promotions tied up the negotiations yesterday (Monday)” said Abdool.
He added, “Gonzalez as you probably know has a record 55-8 with 47 of his wins coming via knockouts. He is a tremendous fighter … You will know if you pay attention to boxing, that in the featherweight division, the reigning champion was Abner Mares, with Gonzalez having lost the title a few fights before.
“He (Gonzalez) was given an opportunity by the late president of the WBC, Jose Suleiman, to face Mares and in the middle of the first round, Gonzalez delivered a left hook which essentially knocked Mares out and handed Gonzalez the championship belt in the process.”
According to Abdool, Mares belonged to Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and there was hope of a great return fight, but Mares got injured and could not meet the ring date, hence Gonzalez’s handlers were looking for a warm-up fight, following which Atwell’s name was mentioned.
“They had a look at his record and realised that he is good material. I think they saw the tape of his fight against Hernandez as well and even though Clive’s record is only 13 professional fights, behind that lie 76 bouts as an amateur with only four losses.
“There is no doubt that Jhonny Gonzalez is a tremendous champion. This is an uphill battle and an opportunity that presents itself once in a lifetime and I am happy to say that Clive has earned that shot and we are very proud to say the fight is going to happen and I think all that remains is for Clive to work hard and take it from here.”
In his remarks, Atwell who holds the WBC/CABOFE featherweight and light welterweight titles along with the national featherweight title of Guyana, thanked the GBBC for the hard work they have been doing to ensure Guyana has another world champion, while he thanked Arjoon and Burch-Smith for their support as well.
“It is finally here. All the people who have worked with me heading up to this particular point, I would like to thank them. We are here and it is time to work; time to focus; time to get it on and allow time and the future to be the deciding factor,” said Atwell.
In respond to this being his biggest challenge yet, Atwell said it’s all a mind thing for him and he is prepared for it.
“I am a mental guy when I get going and I personally believe that everything in life has to do with the mind. If I can condition the mind as well as the body, I don’t see myself having any problems. Boxing is basics; so is just using the mind to use the basics effectively.”
Quizzed on whether he is intimated by Gonzalez’s record, Atwell said, “I am not intimidated by it. Is boxing; I come to win and you come to win. We both have two hands and we both have to fight according to the rules and regulations so there is nothing intimidating about him
He has a good record and would have fought good people around the weight. He is a good fighter but at the end of the day two of us have to meet and I am different from all the fighters he would have fought..We would work it out when the time comes.”
Asked whether viewing tapes of Gonzalez in action would be an advantage to him, Atwell who last fought and defeated Glenroy Beckford at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall last October, winning via a TKO in the second of eight rounds, said it would be an advantage but he doesn’t go that way.
“Yes, studying tapes of him would be an advantage, but I don’t so much focus on studying fighter’s tape, because you adapt your mind and training regime to what you would have seen and a fighter can change his style overnight to a different style. I just condition my mind and body and when I get there, I work out my science.”
In his remarks, Kumar applauded Abdool for the hard work he has been doing with the GBBC’s Friday Night Fights, in which several fighters, including Atwell, fought and boosted their records. He commended Atwell for having a crack at the world title.
“A crack at the world title is a tremendous achievement and I think that Guyana can achieve a world title. I want to wish Atwell all the best and I wish to say to him: Train hard and I know you will become a champion for Guyana on May 24,” said Kumar.
By Calvin Roberts