Jones to face Fraser for light-heavyweight title
JUDGING from the comments made by some of the pugilists who will be involved in this month’s Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC)/Guyana Amateur Boxing Association’s (GABA) ProAm Friday Night Fights (FNF), fistic fury can be anticipated throughout the combined 24-round extravaganza for the card which takes place at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday March 25.
Kwesi ‘Lightning Speed’ Jones, who scored a unanimous points decision win over world renowned Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman last September, will headline the card, when he faces another Barbados-based Guyanese in Cleveland Fraser for the vacant National light-heavyweight title.
Other fights on the card, which GBBC’s Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Clairmont De Souza said his organisation is looking to make better and better each month, will see Edmond De Clou take on Eversley Browne, Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy face Cassius Matthews and Sharon Warde and Veronica Blackman match gloves for the fourth time.
With the exception of Warde and Fraser, all other pugilists were on hand to sign their contracts in the boardroom of Abdool and Abdool Insurance Company yesterday.
In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport prior to signing his contract, Jones reminded boxing fans of his comments made prior to his fight against Eastman, when he said, “It’s my time to shine.”
“I said that back then and I have no problem in saying it again,” said Jones. “I am beginning to shine, since my victory over Eastman and this title fight is the living proof of that and I intend to come out victorious, despite a particular obstacle.”
The obstacle Jones referred to has to do with the fact the he has never fought more than four rounds in his seven professional fights where he has a record of six wins and one loss, suffering that defeat at the hands of De Clou back in June of 2009.
“Like every sportsman and woman you have to adapt to conditions if it is your intention to succeed in your sport of choice. Even though I have never fought past four rounds in my professional career, I will not let that be a hindrance, as I will be going for a victory.
“Fans will get to see the real Kwesi ‘Lightning Speed’ Jones. This fight is a longer version and as the rounds go by, I will be adapting and displaying skill and power and while I would not predict a knockout, I will be going out there to dominate the contest and at the same time come out victorious,” said Jones.
Hardy and Matthews will face each other in a welterweight contest scheduled for four rounds and according to Hardy, who has the fastest knockout (20.7 seconds over Patrick Boston) on the FNF, he hopes Matthews turns up for the contest since his opponents sign but do not turn up at the appointed time.
“At this point of my career, most of my fans and even sponsors are looking to see more from me, but they have not been in a position to do so, since my first pro fight was quick and I broke my hand in three places for the second one.
“I know Matthews has not fought in a while, but I must give him credit as he is here today to sign the contract to face me within the next three weeks and, unlike some other fighters, promised to be there and not absent himself on fight night,” said Hardy.
When asked if the long layoff would affect him, Matthews who last fought and lost to Dillon Carew back in 2004, replied in the negative and even vowed to upset Hardy and stop his winning streak.
Meanwhile, De Souza said the GBBC is looking at having a title fight on each of its ProAm cards for this year, since they observed the maturity in the boxers and feel it is only good for boxing fans that throng the venue to witness the bouts.
The GBBC/GABA ProAm FNF is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, with sponsorship from Ansa McAl, COURTS (Guyana) Inc., Ministry of Agriculture, GUYOIL, Digicel and Giftland OfficeMax, while NCN Channel 11 carries a live broadcast of the night’s proceedings.