… busy ring life predicted for Alfred
PRESIDENT of the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Ryan Wissow is predicting a busy ring life for Guyana’s Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred, following her technical knockout  win over Corrine ‘Sexy Panther’ De Groot last Saturday.
Wissow was among the capacity-filled Princess Hotel and Casino poolside crowd, when Alfred stunned all by stopping De Groot one minute 24 seconds in the fourth of their 10-round clash with one of the best seen knockout in boxing to retain her WIBA bantamweight title.
“Shondell looked awesome the other night,” Wissow told Chronicle Sport yesterday when asked about his thoughts on the fight, adding that Alfred “proved to be the genuine article. I give her a good shot against anyone in the 112–118 lb weight class.”
Alfred told this newspaper that she knew the outcome of the fight prior to entering the ring since her work ethics in gym provided the strength needed to put De Groot to rest.
“I felt great in the ring and I’m very happy with the win even though I’m not surprised at all. My coach (Seibert Blake) and I had a plan for Corrine and from the first round when I attacked her and she opened up, she fell right into it. So, in the third round I troubled her a bit and I noticed in round four she was weak in the legs so I just went for the knockout after she opened up again,” Alfred recalled.

UPCOMING CHALLENGES
Meanwhile, Wissow further stated, “I would like to see Shondell fight either Ava Knight or Terri Cruz for the vacant WIBA 115 lb world title later this year in Guyana. I have two promoters (Seon Bristol and Carwyn Holland) who are interested in promoting this fight. Ava wants the fight and Terri’s people are also interested in fighting Shondell in Guyana as well, so it’s just a question of schedules and money.”
Knight, 21, has eight fights under her belt with a ring record of five wins, two draws and one defeat which she suffered at the hands of Ana Maria Torres last August for the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) female super flyweight title.
The American Knight, who traverse the flyweight to bantamweight divisions, also holds the International Female Boxers Association (IFBA) North American bantamweight title.
Cruz, on the other hand, holds the WIBA Intercontinental championship but the 39-year-old fighter had her bid to land a world title foiled by Alesia Graf last July, when the German gained a split decision win for the Global Boxing Union (GBU) and Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF) super flyweight titles.
Alfred being the tough fighter she is says it doesn’t matter who it is.
“I would fight them anywhere right now because I’m in good shape. I’m always training so I welcome new challenges because Corrine is history now and I want to start looking to better things.”
However Wissow is of the opinion that after seeing Alfred’s last two fights, all the female fighters plying the lightweight divisions, should be on guard because a new warrior is in town and stated that he would advocate for the Guyanese fighter to have the majority of her fights on home soil.
“All female fighters from 112 to 118 should be on notice, because Shondell showed she is a legit world champion and her first win over Corinne was not a fluke. Shondell will be kept much busier in the ring now.
“I can get her fights abroad, but with all the support she is having and will be getting at home, I would prefer she stays and fights in Guyana where she will be treated more fairly than she would in someone else’s home country,” Wissow added.
The WIBA founder said, “Holland has shown interest in having Shondell fight for the WIBA 115 lb world title in September and of course, Seon is interested in promoting this fight as well.”
When contacted for a comment, Holland who is himself a former World Promoter-of-the-Year awardee, confirmed his intentions of promoting the fight, but did not commit himself to a date.
“Well, I was the person who offered or was a part of her (Alfred) getting her first world title shot which she won with the card last year so I would love to promote another title fight for her so she could be among few of the world’s top fighters who hold multiple titles in different weight classes. I don’t want to commit to a date or anything but I know it would be later on in the year.”