Dharry, Marques to headline ‘return of the Scorpion’ Pro-Am Card

By Sean Devers
ALL Roads lead to the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue on Sunday May 21, when USA- based Guyanese Elton Dharry and Dexter ‘the Kid’ Marques will headline the Seon Bristol Promotions ‘Return of the Scorpion’ Boxing Card from 7:30 pm.

Dharry is expected in Guyana sometime in the next two weeks and is scheduled to have sparring sessions at the Andrew ‘Six-head’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown with Marques.

The 10-bout Pro-Am card should provide an action-packed night of fistic fury for fans who are being encouraged to come in their number to witness a Card with International flair as Boxers are expected from Guadeloupe, St Lucia, Suriname and Barbados to match gloves with the local pugilists.

This was disclosed by President of the Guyana Boxing Board, Peter Abdool, Promotor Seon Bristol and Guyana Boxing Association’s Coach Sebert Blake yesterday at the Mirage Banquet Hall at Third and Albert Streets Albertown when the much anticipated Event was officially launched.

Apart from Dharry and Marques, the boxing extravaganza, which is a collaborative venture between Bristol Promotions, the GBB and the GBA, will feature four Professional and a similar number of Amateur bouts including a female match-up.

Bristol informed that this Card is his first Promotion in over a year, as he explained the reason for its name ‘return of the scorpion.

“We have the best young boxers in the Caribbean at the these Events which helps to give them the type of exposure they deserve” added the experienced promotor.

Since they will be females on show I have gotten Shondell Alfred to work with the female boxers” continued Bristol who revealed that in addition to a well stocked food and drinks bar, there would be a special Door prise for lucky fans who will be entertained by pulsating music from a massive Sound System.

Alfred is one of only two Guyanese women to win a World title; the other being Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil who beat American Kathy Rivers in the first ever World Title fight staged in Guyana, in 2004 at the National Park.

Blake, representing GBA’s President Steve Ninvalle, who is also Guyana’s Director of Sport, spoke proudly of this crop of Guyana’s Amateur pugilists.

“We (Guyana) are the headquarters of Amateur boxing in the Caribbean and some of those on this Card are the group ‘B’ of our boxers, noted Coach Blake.

Blake affirmed the Joel Williamson will match gloves with an opponent from either TT or Guadeloupe; Tiquan Sampson will battle St Lucian Arthur Henry; Shakquian James will face another St. Lucian while Emanuel Pompey will clash with a fighter from Suriname, while Jamal Eastman takes on Bajan Joel Bishops.

“We are also looking at having the Jackman sisters and Tafina Barker on show. In order for us to provide our young talent with International experience, the GBA is looking for boxers from the Caribbean, mainly Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados. Guadeloupe, Curacao, Aruba, Suriname and St. Lucia to come here to compete against them.

“We also want to identify the boxers from their community and geographical locations so fans in their area can know where they are from and come out and support their boxers” divulged Blake.

The Coach said that Williamson and Eastman are Berbicians, the Jackman sisters are from East Ruimveldt while Sampson and James live in Laing Avenue and Pompey is from Sophia.

Abdool, the GBB’s Head, noted that Bristol has been around for a long time and has promoted Cards for both Professional and Amateur boxing and it was good that this is a Pro-Am card.

“Amateur Boxers are very important for Pro fighters since this is the nursery that produces most of Guyana’s best boxers.

Without Amateurs there would be no Professionals, so it’s important that we find space and time for them to get oppertiuinites to compete on the same Card as the Professionals” stressed Abdool.

The GBB top-man said the May 21 Card comes at an opportune time since it should provide Dharry a great chance to get a warm-up fight ahead of his WBC Silver encounter in July.

Dharry will fight for WBC Silver which is one level down from a World Title and according to Abdool, that fight is slated for July 15, 2023 at the Everest Cricket Club on Camp Road.

Dharry last fought in Guyana on April 23, April 2022 at the National Stadium at Providence when he Promoted his own fight and beat Orlando Penal for the vacant WBC International Super Fly title.