.jpg)
HAVING brought to the local and regional boxing fraternity, the ProAm Friday Night Fights (FNF), coupled with other boxing cards such as Redemption and Clash of Champions, president of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) Peter Abdool says he is looking to take boxing to higher heights. Abdool was at the time responding to a question from Chronicle Sport, as it relates to sponsorship for his entity’s upcoming card dubbed ‘Firestorm’ which is set for the Princess Hotel on April 20, with four title bouts to whet the appetite of boxing fans and enthusiasts.
He also believes that both Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman and Jamaica’s Salima Mullings who will be meeting for the World Boxing Council/Caribbean Boxing Federation (WBC/CABOFE) welterweight title on the Firestorm card, are worthy competitors to represent the Caribbean in the WBC Championship Cup.
“As you are aware, the WBC Championship Cup is set to box off in June and once both Eastman and Mullings enter, I believe either one of them would be worthy enough to represent the Caribbean in the WBC championship.
“With that in mind, and looking at the other fights that are scheduled for the April 20, I believe it will be a tremendous card which is expected to be recorded by Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) and broadcast to over 26 countries around the world,” stated Abdool who also stewards the CABOFE.
When Abdool, who, last Saturday received his accolade of 2012 Male Sports Personality-of-the-Year, commenced the ProAm FNF two years ago, his aim was not only to revive the sport of boxing at the amateur and professional levels, but also to improve the records of the boxers who fight reputable opponents at times.
Pugilists of the calibre of Barbados’ Shawn ‘The Sniper’ Cox – who has an unbeaten record in Guyana – and Miguel ‘Hands of Stone’ Antoine, Kevin Placide of Trinidad and Tobago and former World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight champion Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite all appeared at some time or the other, on a ProAm FNF.
In fact, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall was bursting at the seams, when the GBBC hosted the Braithwaite versus Cox contest last February for the WBC/CABOFE heavyweight title, which the latter won via a stunning first-round TKO, leaving the fans shell-shocked and silent for a couple of seconds.
“The GBBC is looking to take boxing to another level, starting with next month’s Firestorm. We will be endeavouring to spend every cent we can put our hands on to drive the sport of boxing to the level we envisage for it.
“To date, we have received tremendous support from members of Corporate Guyana, such as Banks DIH, Digicel, Ansa McAl, Courts (Guyana) Incorporated, Guyana Oil Company and Giftland OfficeMax, just to name a few and we are looking at some others whom we will be inviting to come on board with us,” said Abdool.
With such plans in the making and with continued support from corporate Guyana, boxing fans in the Land of Many Waters may one day witness another GBBC-organised boxing fiesta that will surpass Firestorm and create its own storm.
He also believes that both Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman and Jamaica’s Salima Mullings who will be meeting for the World Boxing Council/Caribbean Boxing Federation (WBC/CABOFE) welterweight title on the Firestorm card, are worthy competitors to represent the Caribbean in the WBC Championship Cup.
“As you are aware, the WBC Championship Cup is set to box off in June and once both Eastman and Mullings enter, I believe either one of them would be worthy enough to represent the Caribbean in the WBC championship.
“With that in mind, and looking at the other fights that are scheduled for the April 20, I believe it will be a tremendous card which is expected to be recorded by Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) and broadcast to over 26 countries around the world,” stated Abdool who also stewards the CABOFE.
When Abdool, who, last Saturday received his accolade of 2012 Male Sports Personality-of-the-Year, commenced the ProAm FNF two years ago, his aim was not only to revive the sport of boxing at the amateur and professional levels, but also to improve the records of the boxers who fight reputable opponents at times.
Pugilists of the calibre of Barbados’ Shawn ‘The Sniper’ Cox – who has an unbeaten record in Guyana – and Miguel ‘Hands of Stone’ Antoine, Kevin Placide of Trinidad and Tobago and former World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight champion Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite all appeared at some time or the other, on a ProAm FNF.
In fact, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall was bursting at the seams, when the GBBC hosted the Braithwaite versus Cox contest last February for the WBC/CABOFE heavyweight title, which the latter won via a stunning first-round TKO, leaving the fans shell-shocked and silent for a couple of seconds.
“The GBBC is looking to take boxing to another level, starting with next month’s Firestorm. We will be endeavouring to spend every cent we can put our hands on to drive the sport of boxing to the level we envisage for it.
“To date, we have received tremendous support from members of Corporate Guyana, such as Banks DIH, Digicel, Ansa McAl, Courts (Guyana) Incorporated, Guyana Oil Company and Giftland OfficeMax, just to name a few and we are looking at some others whom we will be inviting to come on board with us,” said Abdool.
With such plans in the making and with continued support from corporate Guyana, boxing fans in the Land of Many Waters may one day witness another GBBC-organised boxing fiesta that will surpass Firestorm and create its own storm.
