`Corinne’s job as an American Gladiator doesn’t mean that she could beat me’ By Rawle Toney
“I’ve been waiting for a world title fight a long time now and I would not let it slip me by,” says Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred as she prepares to fight Corinne ‘Sexy Panther’ de Groot for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) bantamweight title on September 26 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The 27-year-old Alfred has fought 15 times since turning professional in 1999 and has tasted victory 10 times.
She has scored three wins by way of technical knockout (TKO) and has been knocked out twice in her five losses.
But the Guyanese ‘Mystery Lady’ is no pushover and though she has had a rollercoaster career, her highlight in the sport came when she won the WIBA Iberian-American bantamweight title in 2004 by beating Trinidadian Vicki Boodram in the twin-island republic.
Alfred told Stabroek sport recently that she knows little or nothing at all about her opponent but believes this is her time to shine.
“I really don’t know much about her and I don’t really care, all I know is that I will win. This fight means too much to me right now to let it go. Fighting at home is a big, big boost, because I would have home support and everything, so I wouldn’t disappoint my fans and I will win,” the soft-spoken Alfred declared.
De Groot, who was born in Canada of Guyanese parentage, says that she is coming to Guyana to reclaim her roots but Alfred noted that she is least concerned about that.
“It’s good that she could come and fight under the Golden Arrowhead, it would be good for the sport and Guyana and so on, but I’m not worried about that at all. It’s going to be a real challenge yes, but I’m not worried, I know what I have to do and I will do it,” said Alfred.
A stuntwoman and an American Gladiator by profession, de Groot made her professional debut on June 25, 1998 and is undefeated in 10 professional bouts, with four knockout wins, as of April 14, 2007.
De Groot is ranked number four by the International Women’s Boxing Federation (IWBF) as of September 2002, number four by the International Female Boxers Association (IFBA) as of August 2002, number two by the WIBA as of September 2002 and number two by the Women’s Boxing Page website.
Some boxing pundits believe that it would be a tough fight for Alfred because of her opponent’s life outside of the ring.
“People will always talk and they are entitled to their own opinion but Corrine’s job as an American Gladiator doesn’t mean she could beat me, I know she can’t, so I’m not worried. It would be a tough fight, yes, but she can’t beat me,” Alfred maintained.
She said that training has being coming along smoothly and all she was doing at the moment was counting down to ‘D’ Day where she would fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a world champion.