- Tourism Ministry fully endorses bout
THE organisers of the ‘No love lost’ boxing showcase have shifted the fight night to February 14 at the Pegasus Hotel and Suites.
The boxing card organised by the Guyana Boxing Board of Control in partnership with Nexgen Global Promotions confirmed the change in date at a press conference on Friday at the Pegasus.
They also announced a partnership with Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
The event was originally scheduled for February 15th.
Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Kamrul Baksh who represented the Ministry said this is yet another venture as the country seek to further grow the sports tourism landscape.
“We are happy to be support the global events across the spectrum, this boxing bout here certainly will add a lot of depth and value, as you know, Guyana has been successful at hosting major global events previously and I think we are going to succeed with this major bout with Dharry, I want to call on the Guyanese public to rally around our champion.”
He said the country has shown its ability when it comes to hosting cricket, horse racing, boxing setting the bar for sporting events in the region.
“We want to continue to support the development of these sports, boxing of course is crucial, you heard from Peter how successful we have been here in the past and we believe that this event which is absolutely global is going to expand the exposure for destination Guyana and that is why we came and support this, because we believe it tapped into a regional and global audience that is what we want here for Guyana,” Baksh added.
Baksh shared that the body is working to unveil the entire slate of events set to be hosted this year including major sport events.
Guyana Boxing Board of Control representative Vikash Panday says all should recognise that this is special moment for boxing in Guyana.
‘Andrew ‘6 head’ Lewis was a household name and this fight is nothing less of a spectacle and nothing less of severe importance as Andrew Lewis, as Wayne ‘big truck’ Braithwaite, as Vivian Harris and other world champions that we have had. Elton Dharry could have down right refused the fight, it’s a young aggressive boxer, it’s a bigger boxer, he has youth on his side and it’s a tall task for Elton. The Guyanese public should realise this and Elton needs home advantage and Elton needs the support. What we have done and what the Pegasus has done is supplement this event so everyone can come out and see be it a family affair or a date night.”
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 Title.
Dharry has a record of 26 wins including 15 knock-out along with 6 Losses and 1 Draw.
Dharry has won the WBA Fedecentro Super Flyweight Champion; WBA Gold Super Flyweight Champion; IBF Inter-Continental Bantamweight Champion and is the Guyana National Champion.
The overseas based fighter will have his biggest challenge, going up against a 22 years old fighter in a catchweight.
The bout will be Bantamweight contest which means it is a 7 pound weight disadvantage for Dharry, who has to move up two weight divisions to challenge for the title.
Salmin Kassim is unbeaten with 9 Wins and 2 Draws, 5 by way of knock-out and is the Tanzanian National Super Bantamweight Champion and a current East & Central Africa Super Bantamweight contender.
The co-feature battle will see Mikhail “The Critic” Rodrigues versus Bradley “Doggy” Sampson.
Also giving remarks at the event was Pegasus General manager Carlos Montenegro, promoter Aleem Hussain and Guyana Boxing Board of Control executives Josh Abdool and Peter Abdool.
The clash is sanctioned by the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) with tickets are set to go on sale from January 12th around the country.
Other major sponsors include Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; Star Party Rentals, Darthan Investments, R. Williams Trucking & Equipment Services and Comfort Sleep.
