When former world contender Howard Eastman and current national middleweight champion “Deadly” Denny Dalton clash this evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall there will be more at stake than the national middleweight crown.
Both fighters are pondering their future in the sport and tonight’s 12-round main bout on the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) Judgment Day card could chart a new course for either boxer.
At 37 years, the Berbice-born Eastman who has twice fought unsuccessfully for world titles says he is looking forward to his first fight in Guyana and does not rule out continuing his career, although the former European champion has been written off by the international media.
Eastman, who is a late replacement for another former world contender Raul Frank, told journalists that he was in perfect condition and promised Guyanese boxing fans “A show” against the formidable national champion Dalton who, if successful, could see his boxing career moving a step further.
Dalton has had a checkered career so far in the fistic sport which includes an epic three-fight battle against former world welterweight champion Andrew “Sixhead” Lewis and will be facing another prized fighter.
Victory for him against Eastman would send a buzz throughout the boxing world.
Both boxers have failed to predict the outcome but promised boxing fans their money’s worth.
Eastman, who last fought in September 2007 against John Duddy in Ireland, has had several big bouts including losses against William Joppy and former world middleweight king Bernard Hopkins in world title fights.
He holds a record of 48 fights with 35 ending within the distance as against six losses.
Dalton, the current holder of the national middleweight crown last fought earlier this year and has a record of 24 fights 16 wins (11 by knockout) and seven losses.
The main supporting bout is also expected to be a scorcher with both Pamela London and Veronica Blackman predicting victory in their 10-round clash for the women’s national heavyweight championship.
Shelly “The Agricola Boom” Gibson will be squaring off with Trinidad and Tobago’s Andrea Duncan in a four-round heavyweight contest while Charlton Skeete will battle with Cecil Smith in a super bantamweight four-rounder to round off the card.
Andrew Thorne, Vice President of the GBBC said the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will be transformed into a Las Vegas style arena and he urged the public to support the card.
The weigh-in exercise took place last evening at New Court Yard on Main Street.
The GBBC has received substantial sponsorship and among the companies on board for this card are GT&T, Banks DIH, Courts, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Neal and Massy Group, Giftland OfficeMax, Ansa McAl, Laparkan Group of Companies, Magnum Tonic Wine, Grace Kennedy, Harris Paints and Ark Enterprise.
Fight time is 20:00 hours.
