BOXING returns to Guyana as the upcoming ‘Road to Redemption’ extravaganza was given assurances of full support of the government by the Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport, Hon. Charles Ramson, following his meeting with Guyanese main-event superstar Elton Dharry.

In attendance at last Friday’s launch were Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Kashif Muhammad, as they met with president of the Guyana Boxing Board, Peter Abdool, and co-promoters Jack Bharat and Aleem Hussain.

During the meeting, Minister Ramson indicated that in addition to hosting the event at the Guyana National Stadium, the event would benefit from other forms of support from the government and promised to assist the card which will be headlined by Elton Dharry with the Dexter ‘De Kid’ Marques in the co-feature.

“We will be supporting this event, we like Elton being a son of the soil and we look forward to partnering with you to make this event a success,” Minister Ramson added.

In the featured bout of the evening, USA-based Dharry will face the undefeated Orlando Penalba from Panama, who has an unblemished record with 12 wins and a draw and will be fighting for the WBC International Title.
Dharry, who has a large fan base in the 592, will fight for the spoils of the WBC International super flyweight title while Marques will face flyweight, Gilberto Pedroza, also of Panama in the main event.

“My main aim is to win big fights and get another crack at the world title,” said Dharry, who arrived in Guyana yesterday and paid courtesy calls on Vice-President Jagdeo and several ministers.

Dharry, who has been calling out world champions in his division, fought for the WBA super flyweight title in 2019. However, he lost to Andrew Maloney in the latter’s hometown of Melbourne, Australia, in a controversial ninth-round stoppage after the ring side doctor stopped the fight, in which Dharry said he was dominating despite an eye injury.

Dharry, who improved his record to 25 (15 KOs)-6-1 with a first-round stoppage of his last opponent last July, stated that his ultimate dream is to win a world title for Guyana and this fight will put him just one win away from achieving his goal.

The card, which has an international flavour with a blend of talented youths and experience, will see the return of Imran ‘Magic’ Khan, James Walcott and Quincy Gomes.
Khan will take on Anthony Narine in a six-round middleweight bout while Walcott will lace it up against James Moore in a four-round light heavyweight fight.

Gomes, one of the brightest local prospects, will look to add another win to his record when he takes on Barbados-based Charwin Estwick for the local junior middleweight title.
Meanwhile debutants, Stephen Da Silva and Richard James will match gloves in a lightweight four-rounder. (Clifton Ross)