Furious encounters expected tonight
… Jones looking to maintain supremacy over Eastman
THE Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) may be converted into a battle zone tonight, when the 13th edition of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), in collaboration with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport-organised ProAm Friday Night Fights punches off from 20:00 h.
Originally set to face Barbados-based Guyanese Cleveland Fraser for the national light heavyweight title, Kwesi ‘Lightning Fast’ Jones will now take on former European champion Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman for the said title.
Having defeated his opponent by a unanimous decision when the two first met last September, Jones, whose professional record reads 6-1, is confident of pulling off another victory over the experienced Eastman and signalled same by calling on the GBBC matchmakers to draft a contract for a bout between himself and Lennox ‘Prettyboy’ Allen.
“When I am finished with Eastman, I would like to face Allen. He (Eastman) is a stumbling block in my way. I said it before and I have no hesitation in saying it again, Eastman has had his time and it’s my turn now and I don’t intend to have him or anyone stand in my path to success in the boxing fraternity.”
While Eastman could not be reached for a comment, boxing enthusiasts has envisaged a rough time for Jones, stating that Eastman steps up to the plate when there is something to offer and with the light heavyweight title up for grabs, Jones’ work to winning his first title is cut out for him.
Other fights on the card will see Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy, who holds the record for the fastest knockout on the local scene, follow up his 20-second first-round demolition of Patrick Boston last October, with a ring-rusty Cassius Matthews in a welterweight encounter.
Hardy is eagerly looking forward to this contest, as he feels obligated to put in a performance for his fans, who have not been able to see him in action, as most of his opponents either refused to honour their ring date by either failing to turn up or turning up and reporting sick prior to the opening bell.
Despite his inactiveness, Matthews has promised to not only turn up, but shake off the long delay he’s had and stop the victory ride Hardy is enjoying at the moment.
“This is a young kid that is learning the game. I am not into talking right now, all of my talking will be done from my gloves on fight night. And yes, I will be there unlike most of his opponents, since I don’t bite off more than I can chew, and I know I can chew up and spit Hardy out of my mouth,” said Matthews.
Edmond De Clou and Eversley Browne will get the night’s proceedings on the professional side of things going with their super middleweight encounter, while Veronica Blackman will be looking to turn in a better performance than her last fight against Mandessa Moses, when she faces Sharon Warde in a catchweight contest.
Four amateur fights will start the night’s proceedings, with the National Communications Network (NCN) Channel 11 carrying a live broadcast of the action, as they have done for the past 12 editions. Patrons will be charged an admission fee of $1 000, with children under 12 being admitted free.