No ‘Mystery’ after Saturday Night
HER mother Ingrid is one hundred percent behind her and her boxing career. “After all,” declared Shondell Alfred, “she lived with a boxer my father Cecil ‘Koker-Dog’ Alfred who campaigned in Guyana’s ring during the fifties and sixties.

Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred was explaining one reason she has stuck to the ring which is both her parents are boxing-oriented.

Shondell, a current WIBA Iberian-American Bantamweight Champion, will fight Guyanese-connected Canadian Corinne de Groot on Saturday for the WIBA (Women’s International Boxing Association) Bantamweight World Title. Since the Canadian ‘American Gladiator’, TV star has so far been quite hyped up in the local media, we thought we’d find out what makes our own Shondell tick.

She is twenty-eight and turned professional ten years ago when she beat her apparent ‘favourite’ rival Stephanie George for the first time

Growing up in the socially-challenged community of Albouystown, she was a tree-climbing Tom Boy who loved “being rough” probably to make up for her short stature.

She is still only 5’ 3”. At St Stephen’s Primary School, despite her size, she took naturally to athletics and much later karate. Against that background boxing was soon to dominate her athletic interests.

‘MYSTERY LADY?’
Besides keeping her actual age a secret for a while, the description ‘Mystery Lady’ had another origin. Another traditionally depressed Georgetown community, Tiger Bay, boasted Stephanie ‘Razor’ George who had beaten Ann Howard (of Albouystown) for the national bantamweight title and Albouystown wanted its title back.

From precious few candidates, boxing referee Eion Jardine and Shondell’s own father stirred up interest in her to defend Albouystown’s honour by fighting Tiger Bay’s Stephanie. It took little to persuade the pint-sized, big-hearted Shondell.

Because the boxing community did not know of Ms Alfred then, hence the name ‘Mystery Lady’. Former amateur light-middleweight champ-turned-trainer Wincel Thomas quickly fashioned a fighter out of the bold little lady, over a mere two- to three-week period.

The title fight between Shondell and Stephanie was to be the first of a rubber series. Of course, the little newcomer beat George over four rounds to return the title to Albouystown. And Shondell’s show was on the road – a mystery no more.

She has since boxed in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and Denmark. Opponents included the well-known Alicia Ashley, Doris Hack and Alexandra Mattheus. She defeated Trinidadian Vicky Boodram for her current regional WIBA Iberian-American title.

Regarding the imminent ‘fight-of-her-life’ on Saturday night, the diminutive, undaunted warrior declared that she is in “no way” intimidated by de Groot’s age, her current glamorous ‘gladiator’ career or her impressive ring record so far. “I’m feeling great and confident. She has everything to lose,” reasoned Shondell.

“I’m training hard, road work and weights in the mornings and rigorous combat and defence techniques in the ring every afternoon … two mountains don’t meet but two ladies will,” she said a bit philosophical in her own esteem.

Her training ring is at the very modest James Street, Albouystown Forgotten Youth Foundation Boxing Gym. Her trainers who will also be in her corner come fight night are Sebert Clarke, Wincel Thomas and Joseph Murray, all former local champions.

Thomas, her longest-serving trainer, explained that much of the final week has to do with “preparing her mentally to make the technical adjustments; to fight the leftie/southpaw that Corinne de Groot is.”

He further explained that Shondell is doing explosive sparring with taller fellows, some of whom are themselves southpaws. Her speed work is right and there are no weight problems as Shondell is a natural (114-118) bantamweight, Thomas asserted.

Fighters Dexter Marques, Germaine King and Dellon Allicock are among those testifying to Shondell’s grit, determination and skills.

She has everything to fight for on Saturday. Victory over the classy Canadian lady with Guyanese roots would catapult Alfred’s career to the very top. The boxing world would take even more notice of this Mike Tyson fan from Albouystown.

Albouystown and all of Guyana should be in Shondell’s corner – despite the formidable odds. You Go Girl, Shondell!