JUDGING from the heated exchange which ended in a physical encounter between Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy and Trinidad and Tobago-based Guyanese Iwan Azore, the feature fight is on this month’s ProAm card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The 24-year-old Hardy who boasts a healthy 6-0 record with five of his victories coming by way of knockout, will go head-to-head with Azore for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) welterweight title on the 20th edition of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), in collaboration with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association Friday Night Fights.
Asked to take a photo opportunity, both pugilists found themselves in a heated exchange of words while doing so, with Azore, who has won 14 of his 21 fights losing four and drawing the other three, taunting his opponent.
“Nothing like you can beat me Simeon and I will show you that on the 27th. I am not taking a dive like your other opponents. In fact, you need to come prepared for a war, because that is what it will be at the Sports Hall,” stated Azore.
Not to be outdone, Hardy, who possesses a powerful punch in both hands hence nicknamed ‘The Chin Checker’, told Azore to hurry and sign the contract, as “you will be signing your death warrant. Unfortunately for you, you will be the first one whose name will be taken off the pillow list I have early.”
As things got out of control between the two, a physical altercation took place which resulted in Azore suffering a cut above his left eye from a Hardy right hand, making their encounter in two weeks time, a must-see for boxing fans in Guyana.
“You have started a war and I hope you have the artillery along with the guts to complete it; as I will be coming at you from the opening bell. I just hope you are strong enough to go past four rounds, since you have not gone that long before,” said Azore.
“You need to make sure you can last four rounds, seeing that you hit like a baby,” said Hardy. “Your punches are meaningless and will certainly have no effect on me. You got in a cheap shot just now, even though you caught me off guard, but as you say, it will be war from the opening bell and yes I have the ammunition, the question is, can you take it?”
Other fights on the card will see Jermaine King taking on Cecil Smith in another welterweight matchup, former heavyweight champion Mitchell Rogers and Anthony Augustine will meet in a heavyweight encounter while recently crowned super middleweight champion Edmond De Clou and James Walcott will clash in a catchweight bout, with all the preliminary fights going a distance of four rounds.
Except for the Linden-based De Clou, whose grandmother took ill prior to his departure for Georgetown, all the other pugilists were present for the signing of their respective contracts at the Abdool and Abdool Insurance office yesterday.
Meanwhile, president of the GBBC, Peter Abdool, said the WBC at its last convention held in Las Vegas last December, has decided to organise a box-off for their various federations, including CABOFE, which will see the eventual winners earning a high payday.
“WBC is made up of 10 Confederations including Europe, Russia, Japan, Australia, Asia and CABOFE. Essentially what is going to happen is a very major network has engaged the WBC to have the Confederations fight among themselves to establish a champion in eight weight categories.
Those categories are heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, super lightweight, lightweight, featherweight, bantamweight and flyweight. There is nothing between heavyweight and middleweight and while CABOFFE wanted to have 154-lb division admitted, we were outvoted by the Asian countries who have lighter fighters,” said Abdool.
He added, “The standing champion at the end of the competition will earn US$250 000 and a shot at the WBC silver belt, before advancing to a title fight itself. This is a tremendous opportunity to our fighters, because the standing CABOFE boxer at the time that proves himself in May will be the one who will be doing the fighting.”
Abdool said it was a tremendous effort by the GBBC to ensure the FNF went on well, while CABOFE played an integral part in ensuring its fighters were given an opportunity in the ring during the past year and will continue to do so in the future.