FORMER American World Boxing Organisation (WBO) super lightweight champion, DeMarcus `Chop Chop’ Corley, yesterday warned Guyana’s Dexter `The Cobra’ Gonsalves that the time is not right for him (Gonsalves) to become a champion.This utterance was made yesterday when the two boxers faced members of the media at the pre-fight press conference at the Giftland OfficeMax Mall, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
The two will square off tomorrow night in the feature bout of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC) `Bad Intentions’ boxing card fixed for the Giftland Mall.
Five bouts are carded on the night’s programme which begins at 20:00hrs.
Asked what his chances are, coming up against a very experienced opponent in Corley, Gonsalves’ response was, “I’ve been training extra hard for this fight and I’ve watched tapes of his fights and have been working on his shortcomings. I notice he has faults and I will work on those faults since this fight means a lot to me and my family,” Gonsalves said, and then added, “`Chop Chop’ you had your time, now it is my time.”
To this the American, who has a record of 46-1-27-26 KOs and was a world champion from 2001 to 2003, then boldly stated, “Dexter said it is his time, I understand that …but I will show you, it’s not your time, I will show you, when you fight someone like me it’s not your time, when you fight someone with 76 fights, it’s not your time.”
Gonsalves (8-12), however, said he is not bothered by Corley’s utterances and he (Gonsalves is very confident of winning the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) FECABOX lightweight title tomorrow night.
According to GBBC president Peter Abdool, a win for either of the two fighters will give him a ranking of #15 on the WBC list and will be a step closer for a WBC world title crack.
Gonsalves’ last fight was against former world-rater Clive Atwell. In that fight, Gonsalves won by a TKO in the 10th round and since then he (Gonsalves has not fought again.
Corley thanked the GBBC for allowing him the opportunity to fight in Guyana and also thanked Gonsalves for agreeing to fight him (Corley). “It’s going to be a great fight,” Corley predicted.
Gonsalves also thanked his opponent for signing the contract and said he is looking forward to a clean fight. “I know `Chop Chop’ fought some great fighters but he will now get a chance to fight a real great Guyanese.”
The main supporting bout on the five-bout card brings together Mark Austin and Jamaica’s Richard `Frog’ Holmes in an eight-round middleweight contest.
Imran Khan will meet Quincy Gomes in a six-round lightweight bout, Anthony Narine makes his debut as a professional in a four-round contest against Keve Allicock and the opening fight is a four-round super middleweight bout between Kelsey George and Charwin Estwick.