GBBC/GABA ProAm Fights …
HAVING successfully gained a unanimous decision when they first met two months ago, Pauline London is predicting a bloody encounter this time around when she faces Debbie Tyson in the eighth edition of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) in collaboration with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association’s (GABA) ProAm card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on September 24.
“This one will be more bloodied. I saw her (Tyson) swallowing blood in the ring and I know she can’t beat me. I will take her off her feet and hurt her so bad that the public will beg me to have mercy on her,” said London.
She continued, “I am angry at her so bad … I wish if this fight was taking place now. She has no punch for me to move me and I will be in her face more often this time around and show her who the boss is. I am hungry for it and thirsty for her blood.”
As she did the last time they met to affix their signatures to the respective contracts, Tyson snubbed London’s words and give her own reasons why she accepted the fight a second time.
“I know she can’t beat me. I cheated the last time around, with regard to my training wherein I lied to my coach and told him I did certain things when I did not. Added to that, I was coming off an attack of the flu.
“But this time around, she had better be prepared for a war. In fact, she is more of a wrestler than a boxer and it will be different, as her face will be swollen at the end of this encounter.”
The two exchanged words in the presence of GBBC president Peter Abdool who had taken the time to highlight to the media the difficulties his entity faces with when it comes to putting together a card for the Friday Night Fights (FNF).
“After that loss, I have been in the gym every day, training with boxers in the calibre of Mandessa Moses. That’s a boxer and not a wrestler. I am trading punches with somebody who can punch me not push me off and the public will certainly see who the boss is when we meet and certainly it will not be Pauline London,” added Tyson.
London refused to let her upcoming opponent’s word rest, saying she is well prepared for this fight and even went one step further to predict a second-round knockout, which left Tyson smiling.
“Anyone who knows Debbie Tyson knows I cannot be put down in two rounds as that’s where I am stronger.
“Just look at the last time we met and you will see, in fact, I think they (the judges) should have awarded her the fight on a split decision and not unanimous. But it does not matter as this time will be different,” stated Tyson.
London responded by saying her punches changed the entire mood of Tyson in their first match-up and it would be no different this time around.
Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman will be making a return to the squared circle after an absence of over a year where he encountered some personal problems, to face Kwesi Jones, an opponent who is  deemed worthy enough by Abdool.
“I have been receiving enquiries from the European circuit with regard to Eastman and his activeness, which means persons out there still have an interest in him. We were looking at matching him with national heavyweight champion Mitchell Rogers, but the champ said he is not ready.
Nevertheless, we wanted to give Howard a chance to make it back on the international circuit after the enquiries, so we decided to give Jones a shot at him, taking into consideration, that he (Jones) had defeated one of the two possible candidates in Edmond De Clou,” stated Abdool.
When asked about his chances in this fight, Jones said it was a very important one for him in his career and he will be looking to come out victorious.
“This fight is a very important fight for me. In fact, it is a break for me and as everybody knows, I am a young and upcoming fighter who is willing to take on anyone that is placed in front of me and with Eastman, it will be no different.
“I am not daunted by his record, as they are just figures. I intend to go out there and give of my best and at the end of four rounds, come out on top over a once world-rated boxer whose reputation is world renowned,” said Jones.
Finally, Guyanese boxing fans will get a chance to see former amateur champion Clive Atwell, who is at present based in Antigua and Barbuda, in action when he faces the vast improving Mark Austin.
Abdool stated that Austin’s record in the FNF is an impressive  one and while fans have not seen Atwell in action since Carwyn Holland’s ‘New Year’s Beatings’ back in January when he faced Carlton Skeete, they will get a chance to do so now.
Atwell’s handler Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore said the Austin bout was not the perfect one he wanted for his charge, who is training in and out of the gym in his adopted country on a daily basis, but vowed to stand behind him.
“I told him that this is not the fight I wanted for him, but he told me he is ok with it. He has been active in and out of the gym on a daily basis even though he is not getting fights due to managerial problems and vowed to come and thrill the crowd with his variety of moves,” stated Moore.
The opening bout on the card will pit two pugilists who will be making their debuts in Simeon Hardy (London’s sparring partner) and Gavin Williams. Both fighters are predicting a successful start to his career.
Abdool said he was pleased with the compilation of this card, as it is the GBBC’s intention to have its boxers fight first for a World Boxing Council (WBC) CABOFE title, from which point he intends to approach the president of the WBC, Dr Jose Sulieman, and ask for a world ranking within the top 40.
“As it stands right now, it is easier for our female fighters to gain a world title fight as there is not much competition, while the men would have to have at least eight fights under their belt, before we can even bargain for a world ranking, that’s why the GBBC is keen on having our fighters showcase their talent on the FNF,” stated Abdool.