Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 23, 2015 Sports
By Michael Benjamin
The Guyana Fight Night (GFN) boxing cards was conceptualized just over three years ago by officials of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) with the aim of providing frequent activity for local pugilists while boosting their records in preparation for duties on the international scene.
The cards have proven to be successful to a certain degree and have seen many of the principals earning prestigious ratings by the world bodies and winning commendable titles including the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) accolade.
The card has entertained boxers mainly from across the Caribbean and North America and has been responsible for many local boxers’ transition onto the international scene. As such, fighters like Lennox Allen, Elton ‘Bully’ Dharry and Simeon Hardy have all participated in the programme and are now campaigning on the international scene.
Maybe, the most notable of the fighters is Clive Atwell whose progression led him right up to Mexico in pursuit of Johnny Gonsalves’ world featherweight title.
He failed in his bid but it was obvious that the Dominica based boxer (who would have been a regular feature on the GFN cards) would have benefitted immensely from his participation on the cards as was witnessed by his demolition of Trinidadian Prince
Lee Issidore, Venezuelan Rafael Hernandez and Jamaica Contender Boxing Champion, Sakima Mullings.
Despite its usefulness, the GFN never really took off as the crowd support was lukewarm with unscientific research revealing that patrons were somewhat concerned with the quality of some of the fights. Interestingly, while some complained of the actual quality of the GFN cards, they flocked to the venue for the Atwell/Mullings bout and the Wayne Braithwaite/ Shawn Cox shindig along with many others that were really spin offs of the GFN card.
So in reality, the GFN cards did serve a valuable purpose. Most of those boxers that comprised the initial versions (of the GFN cards), the likes of Lennox Allen, Simeon Hardy and Elton ‘Bully’ Dharry, are now practicing their trade in North America and in the case of Atwell, is fighting out of his adopted home, Dominica.
The organizers are currently grooming another crop of pugilists and on September 26 up and coming, Dexter Gonsalves, will lace up his gloves against Iwan Azore for the latter fighter’s welterweight championship belt in the main bout of a card dubbed ‘Brawl at the Mall.’
Obviously, doubts will pervade the mind over the tab given to the card because this particular bout brings together two pugilists of contrasting styles; while Azore is the rough and tumble type Gonsalves is a classical boxer who can also hold his own in a toe to toe brawl.
One needs only to observe his methodical demolition of Revlon Lake for confirmation.
Meanwhile, Azore’s last defense of his title occurred in November 2012 when he defeated Mark Austin on points. He has since returned to Trinidad and Tobago and reports are that he has already confirmed his availability for the fight. He will intensify training in the Twin Island Republic before returning to Guyana to round off preparations.
Administrators of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) when faced with issues of inadequate crowd support experimented with the open aired M&CC Municipal Centre in California Square, East Ruimveldt in place of the enclosed Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). The ploy seemed to have worked since the residents of that and adjoining communities are now coming out in their numbers in support of those cards.
The officials of the GBBC are about to replicate that experiment and the impending action will be staged at the recently commissioned Giftland Office Max, Lilliendaal, ECD, a relatively new open aired venue.
The main supporting bout matches Quincy Gomes with Anson Greene in a 6 rounds welterweight affair. Gomes has had a bright start to his career before suffering a lopsided loss to Frenchman Arnold Martinez when they clashed in Cayenne French Guiana earlier this year. Gomes also suffered a loss to Jamaican, Sakima Mullings in the just concluded Contender Series in Jamaica but it must be noted that the Guyanese pugilist accepted that fight as a substitute in less than one month.
Reports out of Jamaica hailed his performance and Joseph Murray, who stood in as his coach, reported that Gomes turned in a courageous performance but was defeated by lack of fitness. This time around, Gomes has received adequate notice and should be up to the task.
Green’s main claim to fame is his scintillating knockout victory over super/middleweight champion, Derek Richmond. He then lost out to Gladwyn Dorway but rebounded to defeat David Thomas. Greene has lost 3 of his 5 fights but he packs a mean punch. Gomes would be best advised to come prepared for a tough encounter.
National amateur bantamweight champion, Imran Khan, will also be on show and will strip off his vest in his debut fight against David Thomas over 4 rounds in the lightweight category while the night’s opener will see Keeve Allicock battling with Stephon Gouveia in a featherweight fight over 4 rounds.
Yes, boxing returns but on the outskirts of Georgetown, at the Giftland Office Max Liliendaal facility and the action is anticipated to be hot even with the cool breeze of the Atlantic wafting across the venue.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
Apr 18, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been named Wisden’s leading Twenty20 Cricketer for 2023, as she topped all and sundry, including her male counterparts. Alan Gardner looks...Kaieteur News – Compliments of the Ministry of Education, our secondary school children are being treated to a stage... 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]