Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 21, 2015 Sports
GTM, Castrol, Fly Jamaica airways, Guyana Beverages Company and Guyana Tourism Board render sponsorship packages
By Michael Benjamin
When boxing fans troop to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) tonight for the
Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) ‘Jamaica Invasion’ boxing card, they could rest assured that their thirst for fiery fistic action would be quenched when multiple champion and world rated pugilist, Clive Atwell, tackles Jamaican Contender Welterweight Champion, Sakima Mullings, for the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) welterweight title in a fight that is potentially explosive.
Mullings and his entourage landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timerhi, last Thursday night and yesterday morning, attended a pre-fight press conference at the Thirst Park location of one of the sponsors, Banks DIH Limited, before returning to the gym for light calisthenics. The boxers also visited the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, Stabroek, last evening to conform to the weigh in process.
This fight is the main bout on the card which is usually the final bout but will be contested two fights earlier, at around 22:00hrs, to accommodate Mullings who is required to be at the CJIA
for his return flight to Jamaica.
The press conference was well attended and was chaired by President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool. Also sharing the head table were representatives of Banks DIH Ltd, Communication Manager, Troy Peters and Brand Manager (Malta Supreme), Clayton McKenzie.
Those that attended the press conference were somewhat taken aback by the high level of respect bestowed upon each other by Atwell and Mullings, unlike the scathing attacks that characterize these events. “Clive is a legitimate contender and I expect a very good fight but I intend to cart off the spoils when the final bell sounds,” assured the Jamaican pugilist.
Atwell was just as cagey but hinted at a possible stoppage, “I am expecting a good fight and am saddened to hear that (Mullings) has to rush off to the airport so soon but the magnitude of the fight might just force him to seek medical intervention just afterwards thus delaying his
departure,” declared Atwell. For his part, the Jamaican, while lauding his opponent’s ability, pronounced that this fight is too important towards his future advancement while stating that he has bigger plans for his immediate future which a loss would disturb.
CABOFE middleweight champion, Lindener, Edmond DeClou, will come up against local super/middleweight champion, Dereck Richmond and the former pugilist is still bristling from a knockout loss to the latter, last year, that left him (DeClou) nursing a broken jaw. Richmond, who resides in Berbice, was unable to attend the press conference but had earlier stated his intention to replicate the knockout feat. Quizzed on the possibility of a similar loss, DeClou tersely stated, “My days for drinking soup are over!” He was referring to months of misery when the injury restricted his diet to just liquids. DeClou further said that while waiting for his injury to heal he had been training in the hilly terrain in Linden. He said that such training has stood him in good stead and he is ready to return to his winning ways. “Tonight is my night and it’s going to be a different story,” he promised.
Dexter Gonsalves is a reticent person by nature but yesterday he was somewhat garrulous. He promised to take the fight to Mark Austin in their 8 rounds non title bout saying that his training sessions had been thorough. However, Austin has different ideas, “This time around will be different and I will be coming real strong to take this decision,” he confidently declared. Indeed, the last time the two had met, Gonsalves had clinically taken his man apart, forcing the referee to halt the fight in the final round. In all fairness to Austin though, he had taken the fight on late notice and his claim of not having enough time to prepare may just hold water. Nevertheless, the stocky boxer who operates out of the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym, under the tutelage of George ‘Canchi’ Oprecht, will have to dig real deep if he is to get past Gonsalves, a fighter of vast potential and promise.
Also on the card debutant, Keeve Allicock will square off with Quincy Gomes in a 6 rounds catchweight affair while another debutant, Travis Fraser, will come up against his Barbados based countryman, Charwyn Eswick over 4 rounds.
Meanwhile, organizers have recently received valuable support from GTM, Castrol and Fly Jamaica; the first two entities have donated much needed sponsorship dollars while the latter has pitched in with two airline tickets which will be won by lucky patrons after a draw of the ticket stubs just before the start of the feature attraction. That person will win two airline tickets to any of the destinations serviced by Fly Jamaica Airlines; Jamaica, New York and Canada.
On Thursday afternoon, two other entities added their ‘two bits’ towards the success of the card; Marketing Manager of Guyana Beverages Company, Shamieza Yadram and Director of Tourism, Indranauth Haralsingh visited the Avenue of the Republic office of Abdool and Abdools Insurance Brokers and handed over their contributions on behalf of their respective agencies.
Guyana Beverages will be sponsoring under their energy drink, Turbo, and a lucky customer will win two cases of the product along with a Turbo bucket. Patrons are asked to retain their ticket stubs to improve their chances of being among the winners.
Meanwhile, Ms Yadram said that her company is extremely delighted to have been able to render support to the card. She said that her boss, Robert Selman, is a sports enthusiast and is always delighted to render support to events of this nature. She also said that Guyana Beverages is committed to the development of sports in Guyana and the gesture is but a continuation of that very support rendered in the past. She also wished the organizers and the boxers all the best.
Mr. Haralsingh also expressed delight on behalf of the Tourism Board while indicating that his organization has been supporting the developmental efforts of the GBBC for more than two years. “Boxing fosters self discipline and we see the sport as having the potential of advertising Guyana on the international market so we are delightful to be a part of this exciting venture,” exhorted the Tourism Director.
President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, received the gifts and thanked his benefactors for such chivalry. He also assured them of the value of their contributions in the wider objective of the development of the sport. “Consequently, I wish to encourage a wide audience support even as I beseech citizens to come out in their numbers for an evening of high class entertainment,” beseeched the GBBC boss.
Fans are also reminded that the Mullings/Atwell fight will be the third bout on the programme to facilitate Mullins’ flight as the Jamaican will now be required to check in at the Cheddie Jagan International Airport at 12:00hrs of fight night to board his plane back to Jamaica. Boxing buffs are advised to be at the venue early to be a part of the action which starts at 20:00hrs sharp.
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