Fraser wants Jones and Corbin
GUYANA’S Barbados-based light heavyweight pugilist Cleveland Fraser is looking past his Easter Monday opponent Kurt Bess, whom he will battle for the national cruiserweight title and has his eyes set on Barbados’ Shawn Corbin and national light heavyweight champion Kwesi Jones.
“I am feeling comfortable ahead of this fight. In fact I am so confident I will defeat Bess that I am looking down the road at title clashes with both Kwesi ‘Lightning Assassin’ Jones and Shawn Corbin, with Corbin holding a victory over me,” stated the 33-year-old Fraser.
He added, “Jones is presently keeping the national light heavyweight title for me, since I am the first fighter who was contracted to face him, before it switched to Howard Eastman and later Leon Gilkes, whom he knocked out to become the champion.
“I asked Jones to make a title defence, but was told he needs to enjoy his victory a little longer and was given Bess with the cruiserweight title at stake. I have no problem facing Bess, since he will put me in top condition for both Jones and later on Corbin.”
At yesterday’s press conference held in the studios of the National Communications Network (NCN) Channel 11, president of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) Peter Abdool said he has no problem if Fraser is looking to challenge Corbin for the CABOFE title.
“If Cleveland feels comfortable coming down from cruiserweight to light heavyweight to fight both Corbin and Jones, I have no problem with that, I will in my capacity as president of CABOFE, make that fight.
In fact, Shawn is due for a title defence and even though they are a lot of fighters in the light heavyweight division under CABOFE, who are looking for an opportunity, including, Jones, Bess, Fraser and even Howard Eastman who is looking to make a comeback pretty soon, so if Fraser wants to challenge Corbin, I will definitely make it happen,” said Abdool.
A tight-lipped Bess refused to say how he would win on Monday night, but was confident enough to say, Fraser would be disappointed.
“He wants Jones, that’s not a problem, since he has to go through me to get at him and I am willing to surrender nothing easily to him, so he best be prepared for an all-out war, if he intends to not only win the fight Monday night, but also earn the right to face Corbin and Jones.”
Other fights on the card will see Patrick Boston take on Edmond De Clou, Sharon Warde battle Pauline London for the third time and Cassius Matthews oppose Shawn Pile.
On the amateur side of things, there will be a Linden, Georgetown and Essequibo rivalry, with Valenzo Hackett of Linden taking on Essequibo’s Kelwin Josiah, Troy Biley (Linden) opposing Dexter Wray (Georgetown), Akeem Alexander (Linden) battling Bert Braithwaite (Georgetown) and Randy Tello also of Linden going head to head with Harpy Eagles’ Dennis Thomas.
Admission to the venue will be $1 000 and even though the action which will be broadcast live to residents in Linden courtesy of NCN, and later re-broadcast to other parts of Guyana next Friday also on NCN, commencing at 20:00 h. The gates will be open from 18:00 h.