By Treiston Joseph
Howard Eastman and Kwesi Jones will clash for the light heavyweight title of Guyana on march 26 when the 13th Edition of the Friday Night Fight Card is staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Fight time is 8pm.
The Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) made this announcement during its press conference at the National Communications Network (NCN) yesterday.
The internationally-renowned Eastman (46-7-0) who lost to Jones (6-1-0) in September last year will be looking for redemption, especially since his match with Jones last year was over four rounds and the upcoming title bout will be over 12.
According to President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool, “He only starts fighting well until around the third or fourth round.”
According to former Secretary of the GBBC, Trevor Arno, Eastman stated via a text message that he will destroy Jones come fight night.
However, when asked to respond Jones stated, “Eastman was a roadblock in Jones’ way last year and he has come up again, I have conditioned my mind for this fight and he will see a lot of fireworks in this fight.”
Stabroek Sport asked Jones how he plans to adapt to the 12 round format and what has he done differently to prepare for such a bout and he stated:“I have been working on my boxing tactics, defense, movements, everything we have been working on, me and my coach.
“I have also been doing a lot of long runs with 5lb weights in my hands so definitely I have conditioned my mind for this fight,” he said.
Cassius Matthews (3-4-1) will try to make a return after a seven-year absence when he faces Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy (2-0-0) who has the fastest knockout in the history of the Friday Night Fight Card.
Matthews, according to Arno, stated that Hardy is new and experience will defeat youth.
Hardy said:”Everyone has a right to say what they want, but the better skilled my opponent, is the better I fight, I had broken my hand in three different places in my last fight and I still won, my hands are strong and I will ensure that he sees or feels my punches.
“He has been absent for seven years and I respect him, he was a good fighter then and I will make sure it remains that way.”
While Matthews turned up late to the press conference he stated that, “I just don’t train to talk, I train to fight I’m not saying how I will win but I will.”
Meanwhile Veronica Blackman (4-6-0) will step into the ring with Sharon Ward (6-5-1) after her loss to Mandessa Mosses on the previous Friday Night Card.
“I will tell you all the truth I changed gyms. I’m now at 5 Star in Golden Grove, I have no sparring partner since it’s a lot of amateur young boys but I’m coming to do my best, I can’t lose two wap wap.”
Stabroek Sport could not obtain any comments from Ward as she was absent.
Meanwhile there will also be four amateur fights on the card with Ansila Norville against Caroline Bess; Amanda Charles versus Theresa London; Romero Clarke versus Delroy Nero and Mark George against Nankumar Singh.
While the amateurs are expected to put on a good show emphasis was placed on the female amateurs, especially since Norville and Charles will be representing Guyana in Turkey while London is the daughter of former heavyweight champion Pamela London.
The GBBC further expressed hope that more females would come out to watch the sport and also to participate as there are a lot of opportunities.
Prices for adults will be $1000 while children under 12 will be free. And the GBBC is again urging the public to come out and support the sport as they try to get boxing in Guyana to higher levels.
