Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy who holds the record of registering the fastest knockout in South America is finding it difficult to attract opponents into the ring with him.
However, Hardy and his coach Sebert Blake told Stabroek Sport that in order to remain active and build his record, they were forced to bring in an overseas fighter to face Hardy on the Thirst Park Explosion card tomorrow night.
The 24-year-old Hardy will be facing Barbadian Julian ‘Thunder’ Tanniss in a six round light middleweight fight.
The Hardy camp said that they are going the extra mile to ensure the ‘Candy Man’ stays active and will pay for Tanniss’ air fare, accommodation and purse all out of their own pockets. Tanniss has a record of four wins, 16 losses, and two draws. The undefeated Hardy, who trains at the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) gym boasts a record of five wins with four of them coming by way of knockouts, including South America’s fastest, a 20-second demolition of Patrick Boston last October.
His last victory was the headliner on last month’s Pro Am card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall where he dismantled Winston Pompey in the second round with his trade mark punch ‘the chin checker’.
Blake explained why they are going to great lengths to ensure that Hardy stays active.
“We want to take him (Hardy) to the next level of boxing, especially the international level. Locally we’re getting a hindrance with fighters not wanting to fight Simeon. We have put out challenges to some Caribbean fighters (Kevin) Placide from Trinidad, (Miguel) Antoine from Barbados, we begged him numerous times we spoke to his (Antoine’s) manager several times, we spoke to another guy from Barbados, Shaka Henry but he said he is not ready – whenever he is ready we are going to accept.”
“The guy that Pompey fought from Jamaica (Sakima Mullings) was to be for Simeon but he bluntly refused to fight Simeon, we know Tanniss might be a journeyman but we can’t sit down and wait and leave Simeon on the shelf,” Blake said.
Also on the six-fight card will be Clive ‘Wonder Kid’ Atwell and Orlon ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers who will engage in a six round catch-weight bout, and Troy Lewis and Iwan ‘Pure Gold’ Azore will clash in a return eight round catch-weight contest.
Guyana’s first female world champion Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil will defend her Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) heavyweight title against Pauline London in a 10-round contest, Jermaine ‘Star Boy’ King and Mark Austin will go at it again in a six round welterweight encounter, while the card will be headlined by Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman and Edmond DeClou in a 12 round middleweight fight for Eastman’s local middleweight title.
As a special attraction two lucky ticket holders will win a trip to the twin-island republic, Trinidad and Tobago.
The weigh-in for the ‘Thirst Park Explosion’ card will be held tonight at Thirst Park at 19:00 hrs.
Sponsors of the event include Digicel, Giftland Office Max, Guyoil, Courts, Banks DIH Limited, NCN and Ansa McAl.
Admission for inner ringside is $2,500 while regular seats cost $1,500. Bell time is 20:00 hrs.
