• Event set for February 15, 2026

THE Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) along with Nexgen Global Promotions on Friday confirmed that all contracts for the upcoming, “No love lost’ bout set for February 15th next year at the Pegasus Hotel and Suites have been signed.

The upcoming bout will see Guyana’s Elton Dharry seeking to claim his first world title when he goes face to face with Tanzanian Salmin Kassim for the IBO Super Bantamweight World belt.

Dharry is the more experienced fighter with a record of 26 Wins including 15 knock-outs, six losses and a draw.

The Guyanese fighter who just turned 40 has been a force to reckon with, winning the WBA Fedecentro Super Flyweight Championship, WBA Gold Super Flyweight Championship, IBF Inter-Continental Bantamweight Championship, and is Guyana’s National Champion.

However, this match-up will pose one of his biggest threats as he will be going up against a 22-year-old fighter as well as fighting at a catchweight, going up to Bantamweight.

This means a seven-pound weight disadvantage for the Guyanese as he is moving up two weight divisions to challenge for the title.

Dharry, speaking via teleconference from the USA says that he is preparing for the bout and he does not look at age but is ready to put on a class show for Guyana.

He added that he is training hard to claim victory on fight night on home turf, adding that he is set to teach the African fighter a lesson in boxing.

Salmin Kassim is unbeaten with nine wins and two draws, five by way of knock-out and is the Tanzanian National Super Bantamweight Champion and a current East & Central Africa Super Bantamweight contender.

Kassim is coming to Guyana with the goals of flooring his opponent and taking the world title back home.

President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control Peter Abdool says this is a great opportunity for Dharry to capture his first world title on home soil and put Guyana on show to the world.

“It has been a long time in the making. Elton Dharry as you know, last year he was 39, this year he is 40. We have been looking to try land a world title as fast as we possibly could, he won the WBA gold title with the hope of getting shot at that title and it didn’t happen. He won the WBC international title with the hope of getting a shot at that title it didn’t happen…this is going to be an incredible fight in terms of you have a young hungry fighter who has ‘knock out’ power who is going to coming against a skilled seasoned fighter who is looking to at last, land a world title for Guyana, we expect it to be a tremendous fight.”

Chief Executive Officer of Pegasus Hotel and Suites Robert Badal says they are elated to once again offer support to the sport of boxing.

“It is a really big moment for us hosting this event. Peter is a friend of mine and legend as far as boxing in Guyana is concerned. He has spent a lot of time trying to bring boxing to Guyana. He was saying a few years ago that he was bringing a major event and finally it is here with our own Dharry and his contender. Pegasus has always been a hallmark of both hospitality and sport in Guyana.”

One of the co-feature battles will see Mikhail “The Critic” Rodrigues versus Bradley “Doggy” Sampson.

Sampson says that he is convinced that he will claim a TKO in the three-round affair.

“The fight is definitely on and I don’t want to make no excuse for the Guyanese Critic, he is running from me but I will be here and February 15th in the second round there will be a knockout, I can assure you and guarantee you…I’m going knock him out, I choose Guyanese Critic for this fight, he never choose me, I don’t care about his size, I’m here to take punches, I’m a man but I can promise you Guyana, the world, I’m doing this for you it will be a technical knockout and I’m going for the goadee too.”

Other major sponsors include the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Ministry of Tourism – the Guyana Tourism Authority, Star Party Rentals, Darthan Investments, R. Williams Trucking & Equipment Services and Comfort Sleep.

Organisers say tickets will soon be available with the fight also set to be on Pay-Per-View for regional and international viewers.

The clash is sanctioned by the International Boxing Organization (IBO).