DEXTER `Cobra’ Gonsalves’ camp is confident of victory come January 20 when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, in collaboration with NexGen Global Marketing Inc., stages a 44-round six-fight card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Speaking with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Gonsxalves’ coach Sebert Blake said he is confident his charge will take care of the Venezuelan Filipe Barcelo, come fight night.
According to Blake, with punch-time fast approaching, he has upped Cobra’s training regime and the boxer is responding positively.

According to the experienced coach, it was just over a week ago that Gonsalves was given full time off from his job at the Georgetown City Constabulary to prepare for his fight. “He has enough time to train and even more time to rest, so he should be in action mode, come January 20.”

Asked how the camp plans to approach the fight seeing that Barcelo is kind of unknown, Blake was quick to point out that he is in possession of a few fights of the Venezuelan on CD and he, Joseph Murray and Gonsalves have been viewing the fights and have observed certain weaknesses in Barcelo’s technique which they will exploit to the fullest.

Blake, however, said that Barcelo is a solid fighter. “But we can handle him and I am confident we can win. We don’t want this fight to be a one-sided affair for Gonsalves, as his manager hopes to use this fight as a stepping stone for a Commonwealth title fight; so we want him to be extended.”

Asked what role Murray is playing with Gonsalves’ preparation, Blake said he (Blake) decided to give Murray the job to work on Gonsalves;’ technique while he (Blake) is working on the boxers’ conditioning.

Headlining the January 20 card is Guyana and the Caribbean flyweight champion Dexter `De Kid’ Marques who will be coming up against Venezuela’s Dionis Martinez Arias in a 10-round contest, while the main supporting bout is a 12-rounder between Shawn Corbin and Sheldon Lawrence for the World Boxing Council’s FECABOX light heavyweight title.
United State-based Elton `The Bully’ Dharry will face off with Jesus Vargas Garcia of Venezuela.

Guyana’s Anson Green will take on Barbados’ Keithland King in a four-round junior middleweight bout and James Moore will match gloves with Sherwin Clarke in a heavyweight contest. Both boxers will be making their debut.
Meanwhile, Marques will be using his bout against Arias as a warm-up for his Commonwealth title fight against current champion Jay Harris of Wales, U.K. and that bout will be held on March 11 at the Copperbox Arena. It is being promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions.

Tickets for the January 20 card cost $1 000 for stands, $2 000 for ringside and $4 000 for the VIP area.
Tickets are on sale at Giftland Stores, Assuria General Insurance offices in Georgetown, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, Berbice, Parika and Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD.