Bess going for impressive win over Fraser
EXCEPT for Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) Kertson Manswell, Kurt Bess has avenged his defeats to all the boxers who beat him to hold a record of 3-4 as he heads into his national cruiserweight title matchup against Barbados-based Cleveland Fraser on April 25, at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground. That’s when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) in collaboration with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) and Osborne and Associates Boxing Promotions (OABP) will be holding its 14th ProAm Friday Night Fights, with the Fraser/Bess showdown being the feature bout.
In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport on Tuesday, the 31-year-old Bess said he is looking for an impressive win when he faces Fraser, as he intends to ink his name on the minds of his fellow cruiserweights.
“I am feeling good about this fight and at the moment, I am bubbling with confidence based on my last showing on the FNF, where I defeated Anthony Augustine via a first round knockout, so the warning they are sending that I should be prepared for a rough time will backfire on them,” said Bess.
He added, “My intentions are to win this fight and become a champion like my best friend and buddy Kwesi Jones, who won the light heavyweight title last month. I have future plans in store, which includes taking a shot at the CABOFE cruiserweight and later on a world title.”
Bess picked up the fistic sport after watching his father Hal Thomas, himself a former national light heavyweight champion in action, and thought it best to follow in his father’s footsteps, since he was his role model.
His professional career got off to a disastrous start, as he lost his first four fights, including two defeats to Manswell both at home and in T&T, while Mitchell Rogers and Anthony Augustine registered victories against him.
“When I lost to Manswell in my first fight at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, I was nervous from the opening bell and I think that contributed to my first-round knockout defeat, while a lack of conditioning contributed to my second defeat against him at the Splashmin Fun Park two months later.
Then came the two defeats at the hands of Rogers and Augustine, at which point I told myself ‘enough is enough’ when it comes to losses and my career, as I defeated both Rogers and Augustine, with Augustine being knocked out in the first round, while I scored a split decision victory over Rogers.”
“What is impressive and can also serve as a confidence-booster is the fact that I defeated Augustine three months ago on the same FNF at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, which went along with my unanimous points decision win over Leon Gilkes.
“I know that it is all records at the end of the day, but what Fraser’s camp did not know was that their words asking me to be prepared or suffer another defeat, did not fall on deaf ears, as I am prepared inside out for this, I don’t want to win the title, I am going to win the title whether they like it or not, as they are the ones who need to be prepared to wallow in my victory,” said Bess.
He continued, “I never saw him in person or in the ring, so I will not be taking anything for granted against him. However, I am more intent on going out there and coming out on top at the end of the 12 rounds and while I will not be looking for a knockout since I aim to record an impressive victory over him, if one comes my way I will take it.”
His preparation for what he calls ‘an important step’ in his upward climb to boxing fame on the local scene is done at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis gym in Albouystown, where he spars with both Augustine and Jones.
Edmond De Clou will oppose Winston Pompey in a super middleweight encounter, Cassius Matthews face Shawn Pile in a junior welterweight battle and the vociferous Pauline London will match gloves with Linden’s very own Sharon Warde in a catchweight contest on a card that is being held in conjunction with the Linden Town Day Week of Activities.
According to the head of OABP, Denton Osborne, this card will be an exciting one as his organisation which will be making their promotional debut, will be looking to give the mining town community a treat for their money, with three boxers from Linden competing in the professional category.