THE Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) has announced Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell as the replacement for the injured Iwan Azore in the upcoming Next Generation Boxing-Giftland Showcase Pro Am card set for October 24.Trinidad-based Azore was originally scheduled to fight Guyana’s Dexter Gonsalves for the national welterweight title over 12 rounds tonight.
However, injury has forced Azore out of contention causing a postponement.
Gonsalves, present during a press conference to announce Atwell’s entry says that he expected to ‘knock him (Atwell) out in 4 rounds”, adding that many boxers “have mouths to talk” but oftentimes fail to measure up to such words in the ring.
In response, Atwell, speaking to the media from his Dominica base said, “Everyone has a right to talk about knockouts, but I’ll use the example of Johnny Gonsalves who also said he’d knock me out.”
Atwell, also known as the wonder-kid, says he undergoes training daily with the local amateur fighters and continues gym work. He heightened preparation for the event yesterday.
The two, Atwell and Gonsalves will meet in the 140lb class.
GBBC president Peter Abdool said, “Quite unintentionally, we have ended up with a world class boxing match, and fans will be in for a treat.”
Meanwhile, Aleem Hussain, NexGen Global Production, the promotion company responsible for the fight, is encouraging fans to be seated by 18:30hrs as bell-time for the night is 19:00hrs.
Other fights on the night will feature professional debutant Imran Khan taking on David Thomas in a lightweight fight over four rounds
The opening bout of the night features debutant Terrence Adams against Keeve Allicock over four rounds in a featherweight contest while the main supporting bout has Anson Green and Quincy Gomes in a six-round junior welterweight contest.
In the amateur division, at the Youth lightweight level Orin Bancroft of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) is matched against Harpy Eagles’ Travis Hubbard while in the Elite flyweight division Tefon Green (GDF) faces Dexter Wray (Republican).
Welterweight action would see Glenroy Smith (Essequibo Boxing Gym against Republican’s Clifton Graham while Nankumar Singh (Republican) and Kelon King (FYF) would have a lightweight contest.
The event’s corporate sponsors are: Banks DIH Limited, COURTS Guyana Inc., Giftland OfficeMax, Ansa McAl, Guyana Oil Company, Hand-in-Hand, GTM, Digicel Guyana Inc., Guyana Beverages Inc., Guyana Tourism Authority, King’s Jewellery World, Massy Industries Guyana Limited, Queen’s Atlantic, Fly Jamaica and Top Brand Distributors. (Stephan Sookram)