Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 20, 2015 Sports
Clive Atwell fills the void
By Michael Benjamin
The bad news is that tragedy has hit the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis camp and the highly anticipated bout against Jamaican 2014 ‘Contender’ Champion, Sakima Mullings, for the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) welterweight title has been temporarily aborted. The good news is that world rater and multiple champion, Clive Atwell, has agreed to fill in for Lewis and will now tackle the Jamaican in a fight that has caught the imagination of the pundits.
Lewis was scheduled to square off with Mullings at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Saturday February 21 following successful negotiations with Mullings’ handlers and members of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC). Reports are that while engaged in sparring sessions Lewis incurred a serious injury and Board Doctor, Max Hanoman determined that the former world champion would not recover in time for the bout.
Sources in the GBBC confirmed that they are in discussions with Atwell to make the Mullings fight a reality and has received a commitment from him towards that end. Kaieteur Sport then contacted Atwell from his base in Dominica and he said that he has already started preparations for the bout. As a matter of fact, the multiple champion was just about to leave home to engage in some roadwork. He said that he will be in Guyana over the coming weekend. “I’m happy to be fighting in Guyana once again,” he said while confirming the authenticity of the bout.
He said that he would have liked to have at least 8 weeks to prepare but is confident that he could whip himself into shape for the impending bout. He also said that he has weighed the pros and cons and decided that taking the fight is far more beneficial than rejecting it. “Every time I reject a fight I end up being out of the ring for 7 and 9 months then have to start over and that’s hard for me,” admitted Atwell as he justified his decision to accept the bout.
Quizzed on his chances at winning the bout Atwell said, “I will win; I’ve always told myself that if I lost 3 fights in a row I’m chucking it in and I’m not yet ready to quit so ……”
This reporter then asked Atwell a straight question, “Are you in good mental shape after your losses and can you beat Mullings?” Without skipping a beat Atwell responded, “Yes I can! I am not convinced that I have lost my last two fights; they were prematurely terminated by the referee and I remain adamant that had the fight been allowed to continue the decisions would have been different.”
This fight will headline a 5 bouts card that will also see the return of CABOFE middleweight champion, Lindener, Edmond DeClou after sustaining a broken jaw in a fight against Dereck Richmond in October 2013. This will be an 8 rounds middleweight contest and DeClou will be out to prove that he has recovered sufficiently from the mishap to avenge the loss.
Another Lindener, Sharon Ward, will also grace the ring after a prolonged absence when she tackles Lorissa Rivas, an American of Trinidadian parentage, in a 6 rounds super/middleweight bout.
Fans will also be entertained when former local and current CABOFE bantamweight champion, Dexter Marques, matches gloves with Quincy Gomes in a 6 rounds catchweight affair while in the card’s opener, local debutant, Travis Fraser will square off with Barbadian, Charwyn Eswick over 4 rounds.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]