Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 10, 2014 Sports
Dereck Richmond/Howard Eastman bout now non title super/middleweight affair
Officials of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) had suggested a defense of his newly acquired local Super/Middleweight title but the champion, Dereck Richmond feels that a defense is premature and has opted instead for a non title fight.
Consequently, he will engage in a ten rounds affair with former European and Guyana Middleweight boxing champion, Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman when the GBBC stages ‘Berbice Showdown,’ the 31st edition of Guyana Fight Night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Sunday January 26 next.
Richmond is currently preparing for the bout at the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym in Berbice and spoke with Kaieteur Sport shortly before commencing his daily workout yesterday afternoon. He said that while he is anxious to square off with Eastman, he is not yet ready to put his title on the line.
Richmond said that he has followed Eastman’s international sojourn and while he was impressed, he feels that the former European champion is long past his prime and he (Richmond) cannot visualize losing the fight.
The new champion said that he is working hard to attain the best level of fitness as he regards this fight as a very important turning point of his career. “I know that Eastman has had an extensive career on the international scene but I am confident that I could beat him,” said Richmond. He said that he is not planning a knockout but if the opportunity comes along, he will take it with both hands.
At the moment, Richmond is engaged in shadow boxing and punching the heavy bag and the strike pads. He also runs for approximately five miles during early morning training sessions. Richmond commenced his career on a losing note with a fourth round stoppage at the hands of Anson Green.
He also fought the Syrian dentist, Loul Mahmood to a draw but rebounded with devastating knockout victories over Romeo Norville, Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) Middleweight champion, Edmond DeClou and quite recently, James ‘Sack’ Walcott.
Richmond is currently training under the watchful eyes of Orlon ‘Pocket Rocker’ Rogers and he said that he will commence sparring sessions next week. He said that so far he has solicited the services of fellow Berbicians, Kelsie George and Gladwyn Dorway for sparring sessions.
These two will also comprise the main supporting bout in a 6 rounds Middleweight showdown.
George has had a jerky start to his professional career but has shown great improvement in his last outing against Romeo Norville, whom he battled to a draw.
He feels that he has the requisite tools to take care of Dorway who has had mixed results in his career. This might be so but the latter boxer is no slouch and will also be nurturing ambitions of reinstating himself on the local scene after his lopsided loss to Mark Austin last April.
Junior/Lightweight boxer, Richard Williamson will also be in action and tackles David Thomas in a 4 rounds Jnr./Lightweight affair while Cassius Matthews, fresh from his points win over Kishawn Simon, clashes with young and upcoming pugilist, Lared Stewart, in a 4 rounds Welterweight affair.
As usual, four amateur bouts will comprise a part of the card but the organisers are still to be furnished with those names which are expected to be announced when administrators of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) convene sometime this week. Further, the professional boxers will be signing their respective contracts soon.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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