CABOFE cruiserweight champion, Barbadian Shawn ‘The Sniper’ Cox and Guyana’s current cruiserweight and heavyweight champion Kurt Bess will match gloves in the headliner of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC) 19th edition of Guyana Fight Night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on December 17.
The 12-round bout between the two knockout specialists became official at the contract signing yesterday at the Abdool and Abdool Building on Avenue of the Republic.
Cox, 36, will be defending his title for the 10th time and has an impressive record of 14 wins with 13 of them by knockout and a solitary loss.
The 32-year-old Bess has five wins and four losses with three of his wins coming within the distance.
The younger Bess, who stands six feet four inches tall, and fights in the orthodox position, will have his age and a three-inch height advantage over the south paw ‘Sniper’. However Cox’s experience and power in both hands could possibly make the difference.
The Pro Am card will also feature three other professional fights and four amateur contests.
On the undercard, Guyana’s Mark Austin will have his much awaited rematch with former CABOFE and reigning Commonwealth Zonal junior welterweight champion, Barbadian Miguel ‘Hands of Stone’ Antoine in an eight-round welterweight contest.
Dominica-based Clive ‘Wonder Kid’ Atwell will face another Barbadian Gardel Roberts in a six-round junior lightweight fight while Prince Slowe will make his professional debut against Hewley Robertson in a four-round bantamweight bout.
The pugilists who will be matching gloves on the amateur segment of the card will be named in a subsequent article. The overseas-based boxers were not on hand to sign their contracts but will do so when they arrive in Guyana.
Antoine won the first bout against Austin in February this year by unanimous decision. The undefeated ‘Hands of Stone’ has 15 wins, nine by the KO route and one draw in his 16-fight professional career. The draw was recorded in his last fight in September this year versus Jermaine King.
Austin, who defeated King last month on the ‘Thirst Park Explosion’ card by a split decision has a record that reads six wins, two losses and one draw.
Atwell’s record stands at four wins and one draw while his opponent has an abysmal record of one win and seven losses.
Robertson is yet to earn a victory in his two-fight career, losing his debut to Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore in 2001 by a knockout in the first round. Ten years later he dropped a unanimous decision to Dexter Marques in February this year.
As a special attraction two lucky ticket holders will win a trip to Trinidad and Tobago.
The monthly card is an initiative of the GBBC in collaboration with the Sports Ministry and National Communications Network (NCN).
Sponsors of the event include Digicel, Giftland Office Max, GuyOil, Courts, Banks DIH Limited and ANSA McAl.
Admission is $1000, while children will be asked to pay half price. Bell time is 20:00 hrs.
