– Dharry will defend his title if the price is right

WITH a record of 31 wins, 6 losses, and a draw from 38 fights, holder of the IBO Super Bantamweight world title, 40-year-old Elton Dharry wants to fight two more times before he retires to focus on being a boxing promoter.
Two Saturdays ago at the Pegasus Suites in Georgetown, , Dharry became the first Male pugilist to win a World Title on local soil when he beat 22-year-old Salim Kassim of Tanzania by a unanimous verdict in a gruelling 12-round battle to capture the title.
Speaking on last Tuesday Night’s ‘Sean Devers Sports Watch,’ Dharry, who entered the ring at 122 pounds, said he felt relief to finally win a world title on his second attempt in a career that began 22 years ago when the USA-based Guyanese beat Mark Fernandes at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on his professional debut.
“I feel a bit of relief… I was constantly worrying… when I would be a world champion, it was on my mind every day. If I were to retire today, I would have accomplished what I have set out to do. So, I am excited and happy with that. I have always wanted to have 40 professional fights at the end of my career. I have 38 fights; I am looking forward to fighting two more times,” informed Dharry, who grew up on the Essequibo Island of Leguan before migrating to the US at the age of 13.

Speaking about Saturday night’s fight.
“I saw him [Kassim] fight. He is the WBO African Champion, and I have seen clips of him. This guy beat up some undefeated fighters, so I knew I had my hands full.
“I went into that fight knowing that I had a tough fight on my hands. I was a bit nervous… not because he was 22, but because he can fight; he is the African champion, and when you win a belt and keep fighting, you become more confident. The more you fight, the better you get,” explained Dharry.
“I was fighting once a year for six years, while he might have had 13 fights, but he fought in December and February, and he was sharp, so I knew I had something hard coming,” noted Dharry, who is ranked number seven in the flyweight division by WBA as of March.
“When he caught me and knocked me down in the second round, I knew like s..t, I got to do something or else it would be a terrible night for me.
“Well, I won’t say his running around disrupted my plans…If I wanted to, I could have caught him, but I was advised to be smart, don’t overcommit… don’t get too aggressive.
“I could have gotten to him, but the guys thought I was winning even though we were not doing too much in some of the rounds.
“They wanted me to fight smart and not get caught again, and be knocked out. But no, it [Kassim’s moving out of range] did not affect me since he was not that fast.
“I did not expect him to move around the way he did. I thought he would have been more aggressive and tried to put me away because that’s the way he fought in the videos I saw.”
Dharry said that he has been through a lot, but does not entertain negative thoughts.
“I have been knocked out only once in my life, and it was not in the boxing ring, it was not in a fight. It was in a cricket match.
“I was the wicket-keeper, the batsman played a pull shot and swung around, and the bat hit me in my head. I was knocked out cold. I was out for hours. I spent a week in the hospital.
“So cricket is more dangerous! I can say that …right?
“A lot of people pass away while driving, walking, or being robbed going to the store… so now some are saying I should stop fighting because I am the world champion, since it is dangerous. That is nonsense. I think positive,” reasoned the pugilist, who fights out of the Gleason Boxing Gym in Brooklyn.
“I have a great fan base in New York and at Gleason’s Gym. They are already making a banner for me. I am so honoured and proud.
“Even in Guyana, people have given me great support. I felt the support this time around from everyone. There were no negative comments from anyone here, and they all supported me. That means a lot when you step into the ring. It motivates me,” stated Dharry, who travelled to Leguan to shoot a documentary on Gleason Gym.
“It was a wonderful feeling to go back to where I grew up. I will take a two-week rest and spend time with my family,” continued Dharry, whose nephew plays U-15 cricket for Essequibo.
Dharry informed that he has already had calls asking him to defend his title.
“If it’s financially feasible for me, I will consider it, but my focus is to do more promoting and box in two more bouts.
“I am talking to partners to hold a card in the Summer at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and get more eyes on the sport,” disclosed Dharry.
Dharry revealed that his toughest fight was at the Providence Stadium in 2022, when he beat Panamanian Orlando Penalba for the WBC International Super Flyweight title.
Dharry was floored thrice in the final round but survived to win by unanimous decision.
“I was medically unfit to be in the ring. I had acid reflux, and I could not eat any food. I was on medication throughout that period, was dehydrated. I fought a man who put me through hell in that fight.
Former National Lightweight Champion Mike Benjamin, veteran Sports Commentator ‘Reds’ Perreira, and boxing historian Oswald Pierce were also guests on the programme.