World Boxing Council (WBC) Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) light middleweight champion Hector Camacho Jr. has fired the first shot by stating that he will beat Guyanese ‘Deadly’ Denny Dalton and that he will put on a good show for local fight fans.
Speaking with Stabroek Sports on Saturday, Camacho, who is currently training in the United States of America (USA) said that he respects Dalton, who won 16 of his 25 fights, and the fact that he has beaten Guyana’s first world champion Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis.
But he then proceeded to burst Dalton’s bubble when he claimed that Lewis was past his prime.
Camacho, 32, hopes that the fight, which will be the main event on the ‘Deadly Encounters’ boxing card on June 5 will be an entertaining contest for the loyal patrons.
The two seasoned pugilists will trade blows for 10 rounds for the vacant World Boxing Foundation Intercontinental middleweight title on the BrisO Promotions cards at the Princess Hotel poolside.
It will be the first time that two title fights will be held in Guyana simultaneously and also the first time that a card will be staged at a hotel.
Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) bantamweight champion, Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred will defend her title in the long-awaited rematch against ‘Sexy Panther’ Corinne Van Ryck De Groot.
Additionally, Guyana’s first female world champion Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil will be looking to rain bombs on compatriot Veronica Blackman.
Promoter of the card Seon Bristol, who has already promised that this card will showcase boxing at its best, also implored the boxers to give of their best. He maintains that the aim is to lift the level of promotion of boxing in the Guyana and that all will benefit from the exposure Guyana will receive, as a venue to host world class fights.
And in keeping with Bristol’s vision, Camacho’s manager Teddy Coleman, said he was hoping that this is not the only time that Camacho Jr will visit Guyana. Coleman told Stabroek Sport that his camp will be looking to make a big impression and he reiterated that Camacho Jr. will be here to win even though they respect his opponent.
Coleman and Camacho’s coach Roblee Velez said their camp’s main concern at the moment was Dalton. They said that they are not looking past Dalton to any other opponent until the fight is over. Velez said that he hopes that Dalton will be well prepared for his imminent battle because Camacho Jr. was hungry.
Velez, who also trained Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho Sr., stated that ‘Machito’ was hungrier than his father. Camacho Jr., who has only lost only three professional bouts from his 55 fights, had a brief sabbatical away from the sport and he hinted that other fighters such as Ricardo Mayorga had gone on to fight for world titles, an opportunity he was never fortunate to have.
However, he believes that he has time on his side to one day contest for a championship belt.
Velez revealed that Camacho Jr. has been training for the past four months for this fight and there were times when the workload was increased especially since the original date for the contest was May 7 at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA.
Unfortunately Dalton had his visa application turned down by the US Embassy in Guyana.
Velez promised that Guyanese will see something special in Camacho Jr. and said hopefully he can fight for a world title in Guyana.
Camacho and his entourage will be in Guyana tomorrow to finalise preparations for Saturday’s showdown.
