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GUYANA’S professional multi-division champion Clive Atwell is brimming with confidence ahead of his eight-round non-title fight against replacement Anson Greene tonight.The fight, which is the feature event of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC)/Guyana Amateur Boxing Association’s (GABA)-organised 29th Edition of Guyana Fight Night, scheduled to get under way at 20:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with the amateur segment of the eight-bout card. Atwell was billed to square off with Barbados-based Guyanese boxer Sharwyne Marshall. However, the GBBC yesterday informed members of the media present that Marshall has opted out of the contest but did not state the exact reason for his decision.
GBBC’s president Peter Abdool said that his board has replaced Marshall with Anson Greene who was originally down to meet Berbician Richard Williamson in a four-round contest. Abdool noted the change came about because the board had to reschedule fights and Williamson will now appear on a Guyana Fight Night card at the end of the month. He will face Dexter Marques.
Abdool suggested that Marshall might have opted out of the contest because he, like other local and regional boxers, is seemingly afraid to match gloves with the CABOFE lightweight, junior welter and welterweight champion.
Atwell who resides in Dominica is also the National featherweight and lightweight champion. Speaking at the GBBC-organised press conference yesterday in the National Communications Network studio, Homestretch Avenue, Atwell who is currently preparing for the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) 50th Anniversary said he will not underestimate Greene. “He’s a young fighter but a good one. He has been training very hard, so I will not take chances.”
Atwell, like Greene who trains at the Andrew `Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym, continued “You should see this man (Greene) train, he trains like a `gladiator’, so I’m expecting a lot from him and would not take him lightly. I, however, wish him the best of luck”
Atwell, who to date has recorded 10 victories from as many fights with five of them coming via the knock-out route, last fought Barbados-based Guyanese Revlon Lake whom he (Atwell) devastated.
Atwell’s first professional fight was against Charlton Skeete in January 2010 after turning pro late in 2009.
Atwell, when asked in an exclusive interview if he was mentally and physically prepared for tonight’s contest, replied in the affirmative stating that while in Dominica, where he lives with his parents, he has been doing a lot of road work and has incorporated swimming in his training programme.
He said since returning to Guyana three weeks ago, he has been working with his coach Lennox Daniels and they have been concentrating on glove and pad work.
The 2007 Pan America Games bronze medallist said he had intended to get in 80-100 rounds of glove work but was only able to do 30 rounds due to injury.
“I was not able to spar the amount of rounds I wanted to. However, I did lots of agility and aerobic workouts. I also did quite a lot of short sprints, but the main thing was the pad work which I think has helped me to improve my positioning and delivering effective punches.”
Asked if he had any predictions, Atwell said he always tries to give fight fans their money’s worth and tonight will be no different.“The fight is over eight rounds, but if I see an opportunity to finish it early, I’ll seize it. I’m just waiting to `rumble’.
Greene, in responding to Atwell’s statements said while he was not making any predictions, he was optimistic that he can get past Atwell.
He expressed his gratitude to the GBBC for offering him the opportunity to fight someone of Atwell’s calibre as he (Greene) knows that he will learn from the exposure.
Greene, who has a professional record of two wins and two losses, said versus Atwell, he will enjoy a weight advantage.
The main supporting bout will see former European middleweight champion Howard `The Battersea Bomber’ Eastman square off with Mark Austin over eight rounds.
Eastman was not present at yesterday’s press conference. Austin in brief comments said he is very much aware that Eastman is a very experienced fighter and beating him (Eastman) will be a plus for him. “I will go out there and do my best.”
Over a week ago, Eastman, at the signing of the contract had admitted that he is getting older each day and that Austin is a very good young fighter who packs a punch and he (Eastman) will not be taking his opponent lightly. “Austin is a cagey fighter and I will take him seriously. I cannot afford to blink,” Eastman had said.
The other two fights on the professional card will bring together Eversley Brown and Laured Stewart doing battle in a four-round middleweight bout and Derick Richmond facing Romeo Norville in a superweight contest over four rounds also.
The amateur segment of the card will feature four bouts.
In the opening contest, Tefon Greene will battle with Junior Henry in the 110-114 weight division, while Tyron Lashley meets Michael April in a junior flyweight contest.
Kelroy Evelyn takes on Jason Barker in a heavyweight contest and Linden Daniels squares off with Travis Fraser in a welterweight bout.
Meanwhile, Abdool stated that members of the various cricket teams currently contesting the Guyana leg of the CPL tournament will be among the special invitees tonight.
Ringside tickets cost $1 500 while tickets for the stands are $1 000 each.
GBBC’s president Peter Abdool said that his board has replaced Marshall with Anson Greene who was originally down to meet Berbician Richard Williamson in a four-round contest. Abdool noted the change came about because the board had to reschedule fights and Williamson will now appear on a Guyana Fight Night card at the end of the month. He will face Dexter Marques.
Abdool suggested that Marshall might have opted out of the contest because he, like other local and regional boxers, is seemingly afraid to match gloves with the CABOFE lightweight, junior welter and welterweight champion.
Atwell who resides in Dominica is also the National featherweight and lightweight champion. Speaking at the GBBC-organised press conference yesterday in the National Communications Network studio, Homestretch Avenue, Atwell who is currently preparing for the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) 50th Anniversary said he will not underestimate Greene. “He’s a young fighter but a good one. He has been training very hard, so I will not take chances.”
Atwell, like Greene who trains at the Andrew `Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym, continued “You should see this man (Greene) train, he trains like a `gladiator’, so I’m expecting a lot from him and would not take him lightly. I, however, wish him the best of luck”
Atwell, who to date has recorded 10 victories from as many fights with five of them coming via the knock-out route, last fought Barbados-based Guyanese Revlon Lake whom he (Atwell) devastated.
Atwell’s first professional fight was against Charlton Skeete in January 2010 after turning pro late in 2009.
Atwell, when asked in an exclusive interview if he was mentally and physically prepared for tonight’s contest, replied in the affirmative stating that while in Dominica, where he lives with his parents, he has been doing a lot of road work and has incorporated swimming in his training programme.
He said since returning to Guyana three weeks ago, he has been working with his coach Lennox Daniels and they have been concentrating on glove and pad work.
The 2007 Pan America Games bronze medallist said he had intended to get in 80-100 rounds of glove work but was only able to do 30 rounds due to injury.
“I was not able to spar the amount of rounds I wanted to. However, I did lots of agility and aerobic workouts. I also did quite a lot of short sprints, but the main thing was the pad work which I think has helped me to improve my positioning and delivering effective punches.”
Asked if he had any predictions, Atwell said he always tries to give fight fans their money’s worth and tonight will be no different.“The fight is over eight rounds, but if I see an opportunity to finish it early, I’ll seize it. I’m just waiting to `rumble’.
Greene, in responding to Atwell’s statements said while he was not making any predictions, he was optimistic that he can get past Atwell.
He expressed his gratitude to the GBBC for offering him the opportunity to fight someone of Atwell’s calibre as he (Greene) knows that he will learn from the exposure.
Greene, who has a professional record of two wins and two losses, said versus Atwell, he will enjoy a weight advantage.
The main supporting bout will see former European middleweight champion Howard `The Battersea Bomber’ Eastman square off with Mark Austin over eight rounds.
Eastman was not present at yesterday’s press conference. Austin in brief comments said he is very much aware that Eastman is a very experienced fighter and beating him (Eastman) will be a plus for him. “I will go out there and do my best.”
Over a week ago, Eastman, at the signing of the contract had admitted that he is getting older each day and that Austin is a very good young fighter who packs a punch and he (Eastman) will not be taking his opponent lightly. “Austin is a cagey fighter and I will take him seriously. I cannot afford to blink,” Eastman had said.
The other two fights on the professional card will bring together Eversley Brown and Laured Stewart doing battle in a four-round middleweight bout and Derick Richmond facing Romeo Norville in a superweight contest over four rounds also.
The amateur segment of the card will feature four bouts.
In the opening contest, Tefon Greene will battle with Junior Henry in the 110-114 weight division, while Tyron Lashley meets Michael April in a junior flyweight contest.
Kelroy Evelyn takes on Jason Barker in a heavyweight contest and Linden Daniels squares off with Travis Fraser in a welterweight bout.
Meanwhile, Abdool stated that members of the various cricket teams currently contesting the Guyana leg of the CPL tournament will be among the special invitees tonight.
Ringside tickets cost $1 500 while tickets for the stands are $1 000 each.
