Popular boxing promoter, Carwyn Holland, of Holland’s Entertainment Promotions, has the perfect gift for boxing fans – a promotions dubbed “Season’s Beatings” which promises to deliver unsurpassed fistic entertainment, a press release from the promotions group stated.
In the main event, Guyana’s first female world champion, Gwendolyn “Stealth Bomber” O’Neil, will return home not for the Xmas holidays but rather to engage in fistic shenanigans with Sharon Ward in what is expected to be a light heavyweight bout.
The fight, which will take place at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, will be the USA–based O’Neil’s first fight in years.
The former WIBA, WIBC and Guyana champion, will headline the card which will also feature Guyana’s most feared boxer Mitchell Rogers who has finally found an opponent to enter the ring with him.
According to the release O’Neil will be coming to avenge the defeat suffered by her friend and gym mate Debbie Tyson, who was soundly beaten by Lindener Ward in their last fight.
O’Neil, whose career reads 13-6-1, 7 KO’s, will be remembered for her fight against boxing great Laila Ali (daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali).
According to Holland, O’Neil will be using this fight as a warm up for her upcoming title challenge and rematch against American Carlette Ewell.
Ward (4-3) is no pushover, as was seen in her last fight where she outclassed Tyson, known for her much-vaunted knockout punch.
Ward, who is reported to be currently in Russia preparing for her fight, will be back in Guyana on December 22.
Meanwhile, Rogers, an employee of Banks DIH Limited, will have his hands full when he faces former gym mate, Anthony Agustine from Demerara Distillers Limited in a battle of the beverage giants’ strongmen.
Rogers, who could not find anyone brave enough to step into the ring with him this year, except for one occasion in Linden when he knocked out Cloyd Williams inside three rounds, is not only the national heavyweight champion, he is also a bodybuilder.
According to Holland, Rogers will have to prove he can really fight and represent himself well, and that he is not just big, strong and intimidating.
“My plan is to give Guyana its first heavyweight world champion and I strongly believe if Rogers can add a little more speed and upper body movement to go along with the immense power he has in both hands he will surely do well against the Klitschko brothers who rule the heavyweight division. Rogers can take a punch and give a punch, so I will get him a few fights to step up his activities and then match him against overseas based Guyanese Andre “Stone” Purlette or former world champion Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaithe to see what he is really made of. If he fails to deliver against those guys then my prediction of him becoming the world heavyweight champion will be wrong,” Holland stated.
The card will also involve Trinidad-based “Pure Gold” Iwan Azore who will return to Guyana to face the ever dangerous Laurex Benn in a junior middleweight match-up. The rest of the undercard reads: Dexter Marques vs. Shawn Pile and debutant Clive Atwell vs. Errol Trotman.
The release stated that “Season’s Beatings” will also serve as an appreciation card for the sponsors and persons who have contributed to H.E. Promotions in 2009. The event will also be televised internationally.
