With the Caribbean Fury2 a mere 24 hours away at the Princess Hotel, promoter Carwyn Holland reiterated his call to the government to fully support boxing which he said can boost Guyana’s sport tourism package.
At the card’s final press conference yesterday at the Pegasus Hotel Holland said that promoters do not make a profit, partly because there isn’t much sponsorship for the sport as well as the lack of substantial government support.
According to Holland he has not garnered half of the $10M to promote the card but he is confident that all will go well by the end of the event tomorrow.
He pointed out that with the promotion of the sport Guyana also gets a chance to be promoted to the rest of the world.
He emphasised that boxing can also promote Guyana’s sport tourism package overseas, especially since the card will be televised live by Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN).
Commenting on ESPN, Holland who brought the first world title fight to Guyana in 2004 said that the rights to televise the fight were not sold to ESPN.
He disclosed at the news conference that he has made acquaintances over the years with persons at the American cable television network and they will be observing to see the success of the card through its planning and its execution.
Holland said that for the next Caribbean Fury card they will buy the rights once they are satisfied with the second edition of the card, which was first launched last year.
“I will make use of this opportunity and produce the best boxing card for everyone,” Holland assured.
Co-Promoter of the card Leon Moore, through his promotional company Hurry-Up Promotions, said that “sparks will fly” at the event and patrons should come out and support “the biggest card in Guyana.”
Moore, who will also be headlining the card against Venezuelan Breilor ‘Zulianito de Oro’ Teran, took time to thank the boxers for their cooperation and acknowledged the sacrifices they have made to appear on the card despite the fact some of them had been notified late.
Speaking about his bantamweight fight with Teran, Moore who has 26 professional wins under his belt and is currently ranked fifth by the World Boxing Council (WBC) assured media operatives that he has trained hard for the fight and he will be successful at the end of the night.
Moore said that while he regards every opponent as a fighter he always views himself as number one and therefore emerging as the winner is always his objective.
Teran, who has 21 outings in the ring, said that he is happy to be in Guyana to fight an opponent of Moore’s calibre.
“Whatever happens in the ring on Saturday the best man will win and people should not miss this opportunity to see a good fight,”
Teran relayed through interpreter Carlos Cuevas.
When Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) bantamweight champion Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred took the microphone she told the gathering that she is confident and Olga ‘La Mona’ Julio should come prepared for the fight. Alfred last fought on June 5 against Corinne van Ryck de Groot, who was knocked out by a vicious right hook to the temple.
The Colombian Julio, through interpreter Cuevas, said that she too is also prepared for the bout and promised a barnburner.
Overseas-based fighter Raul Frank sent a warning to his opponent ‘Deadly’ Denny Dalton, telling him to come with all that he has. Frank envisions the fight will be a great contest by two ‘old Gs’ (warriors).
