By Emmerson Campbell
If the saying that opportunity comes at least once in everyone’s lifetime is true, the opportunity of boxer Mark Austin’s life has now presented itself.
“We will be bringing Mark Austin to Trinidad to fight on a professional card on February 12, on my promotion. As long as he wins we will form a management team which I will be a part of and with a victory, he will be entitled to enter the WBC CABOFE 50th anniversary tournament with the winner netting US 250,000.”
So said President of the Caribbean Promoters Association (CPA) and Trinidad of Tobago’s Kick Boxing Federation, Jason Fraser during an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday at the Grand Coastal International Hotel.
Fraser said that he likes Austin as he is a young, talented pugilist full of potential.
“I like Austin. He is young, talented and is loaded with potential.
“I believe with the right management team he could be something good in the sport of boxing. We were looking for a lightweight boxer and Mark came to mind,” Fraser told Stabroek Sport.
Austin, who fought his last two fights above the lightweight limit, will have to shed a few pounds in order to fight in February and in the CABOFE tournament.
Austin started his professional career in June 2010 and has a record of six wins and three losses.
Fraser also revealed that he is also here to negotiate with the vice president of the CPA, Carwyn Holland to take his ‘Caribbean Fury’ initiative to the Twin Island Republic.
“Caribbean Fury, which is promoted here by Carwyn right now I am actually negotiating with him to bring ‘Caribbean Fury’ to Trinidad and Tobago and I know I will get a lot of support. The government is now pumping money into sport and into boxing and I am saying ‘Caribbean Fury’ can make it big.”
During the interview Fraser also commented on Guyana’s Road to London hopeful Imran ‘Magic’ Khan who won his fight on Fraser’s last Pro Am card in December.
“I personally believe that Imran has a lot of ability, he is a gem, but he needs proper management, (Terrence) Poole is doing a good job in the corner but I think they need to put a team together, he needs proper physiotherapy; someone to make sure his meals are on time; make sure he has proper vitamins and those things because just natural and raw ability will not take him to the Olympics.
“With that done I am certain that the Caribbean can depend on him for a medal. I am saying that boldly. I was really impressed by his performance. He is also disciplined. We interact a lot and he loves his country. He draped himself with the Guyana flag when he won the fight and took it off after he went to the dressing room. I believe that all the Caribbean federations should pool together and support Khan for his bid for Guyana,” he opined.
Fraser is scheduled to leave Guyana tomorrow.
