Expect early finishes Friday night
JUDGING from the words of the pugilists who will be on show when the bell is sounded for the eighth edition of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC)/Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) ProAm fights, this Friday night, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, an early end can be the order of the night.
At the press conference which was held in the studios of NCN yesterday, debutants Gavin Williams and Simeon Hardy will punch off things with their junior middleweight clash and the much heavier Hardy, who boasts an impressive 38-4 amateur record, has vowed to knock his opponent out as early as the first round.
“This is the beginning of my professional career. I am calling it the Genesis as in the first book of the Bible which tells us ‘in the beginning …’ and I am looking to kick-start it with an impressive showing. I am young and fast and I will be looking to make a big impression,” stated the 23-year-old Hardy.
He believes his opponent, whose amateur fights do not match half of his victories as an amateur, does not have what it takes to stop him, to which the much older Williams, who refused to be drawn into any verbal confrontation, said it’s empty threats from an empty bag.
“As the saying goes, ‘An empty vessel makes the most noise’ and that’s just what he is doing. He is empty and so are his threats and all he is doing is confirming for me what I thought of him and come Friday night, he will be singing a different tune.”
Former European middleweight champion Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman will be going up against Kwesi ‘Lightning Hitman’ Jones in a middleweight encounter and according to president of the GBBC Peter Abdool, Eastman, who like Jones was absent from yesterday’s press conference, is promising an early end to the match-up.
Mark Austin has made a name while inking a lasting impression in the minds of boxing enthusiasts on the Friday Night Fights (FNF) and after being forced to face Cecil Smith instead of Clive Atwell in his debut bout, he is relishing the opportunity to meet Atwell.
“I am looking forward to this fight with vigour. I always wanted to face him and now that I am being given that opportunity, I will be looking to close off things early as I am looking for a second round stoppage.
My last two fights were used to sharpen the rough edges, as I knew we would be meeting sometime soon and all fans would have to do is look back at what I did to both Shawn Pile and Errol Trotman who had both promised to make a meal of me,” stated Austin.
He added; “Pile was looking to make me a stepping stone in preparation for the title bout he had and I defeated him, while Trotman said he could beat the winner of the match-up between Pile and me.
“Unfortunately for him, he got me and I ensured his words were like wind as I inflicted some heavy punishment before his corner threw in the towel and I am looking to continue in that same vein against Atwell.”
Atwell who is based in Antigua and Barbuda was not there to respond, as according to Abdool, he was expected to deplane at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 14:00 h, the same time the press conference was scheduled to commence, but he is adamant that Atwell will put up a show against Austin.
As was evident when they met the first time, Debbie Tyson and Pauline London stole the show with London vowing to live in Tyson’s face from round one to four, to which Tyson said: “only to receive blows from round one to four”.
“I must admit that the last time I only had two tanks of gas, but now I have four and she will only live in my face from rounds one to four, to receive a barrage of blows. Whatsoever is being cooked in the kitchen, she had better be prepared to eat it,” said Tyson.
“I am thirsty and I will be in your face come what may, from one to four. I saw you swallowing blood the last time we met and this time will be no different. I intend to and will be beating you up badly. You are a walk in the park when it comes to Pauline London,” replied London.
On the amateur side of things for the night in which patrons are being asked to pay $1 000 to witness the action, three national champions who competed in the just concluded GABA Michael Parris National championships will be on show.
Republican Gym’s Daneshwar Narine will face Dexter Ray in a junior flyweight contest, while Laured Stuart of Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) will be matching gloves with Timehri’s Ron Smith.
Eon Bancroft is the first national triple amateur champion, having fought and won the middleweight division in the GABA’s Andrew Murray Novices, Intermediate and Michael Parris National championships respectively and he will be facing Alfred Benjamin in that same division.
The final bout on the amateur card will pit newly crowned light heavyweight champion Markenber Pierre of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) gym, doing battle against heavyweight champion Trelon Munroe of Republican Gym.
National coach Terrence Poole, who along with Guyana’s three representatives in boxing at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in India in Devon Boatswain, Clevon Rock and Dexter Jordan, was present yesterday and said the ProAm fights have certainly helped develop amateur boxing in the country.
“When you look at the performances of our boxers who competed in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, wherein Guyana got two bronze medals, that alone can testify to how good the ProAm card has been to amateur boxing in Guyana.”
He further stated: “We have boxers going to the gym on a daily basis, looking to have a shot on the FNF which is a great sign for us. Also there are younger persons who have expressed their interests to become a boxer, which speaks well for Guyana’s future in the sport.”
Poole stated that the GABA, whose secretary Sean Richmond was present, is looking to honour past amateur fighters, citing the Andrew Murray Novices and Michael Parris National championships as examples.
Abdool thanked the sponsors namely. Guyoil, Digicel, Giftland OfficeMax, Courts (Guyana) Inc, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Agriculture and Ansa Mc Al for their continued support into the FNF and called on other businesses in corporate Guyana to give their support to the cards which is being held on the last Friday of every month.
While he did not confirm it, Abdool said there may be a bonus bout on this card, involving Guyana’s Trinidad and Tobago-based Shawn Corbin against a local fighter, since his manager in Barbados’ Sam Layne has contacted the GBBC in connection with same.