By Emmerson Campbell
Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy, the WBC CABOFE welterweight champion is more than anxious to step in the ring against Mark Austin since he read the remarks made by Austin’s trainer in a Stabroek Sport publication two days ago.
Austin and Hardy will match gloves on March 30 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in an eight-round non title bout on the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) 21ST edition of the Guyana Fight Night Pro Am card.
Said Austin’s trainer George ‘Canchie’ Oprecht in Friday’s publication…. “Candy Man can’t beat Mark Austin.
He added: “‘Candy Man’ beat ah set of washouts, that is how he built his reputation. Mark is a more skillful and a faster fighter. We don’t have no special thing with that boy (Hardy). I know once Mark make condition and can adjust and adapt, we will win.
“He (Hardy) looking for one big punch and he slow like hell, he beat a lot of old people and washout handpicked fighters.”
The undefeated Hardy, who is a has won six of his seven professional fights via the KO route with his patented punch dubbed the ‘chin checker’ recently invited Stabroek Sport to his training base at the Forgotten Youth Foundation gym to disclose his intentions come March 30.
The knockout specialist, who had a ‘pillow list’ last year, says he plans to re introduce the ‘pillow list’ and put all the remarks and Austin to bed literally.
“I am going to buy a white pillow and put all the people I knocked out on it and I will leave a slot for Austin and on March 30th I will walk with the pillow and a marker to the ring so when I’m done with him, I will add his name to the slot” Hardy boasted.
Austin, 23, who has a record of seven wins, three losses and one draw has lately dubbed himself the ‘Iron Chin’ and promised to solve the ‘chin check’ mystery however Hardy said even if it is solved it would not be by Austin.
Said Hardy “I am an eagle and Austin is a carrion crow. He is out of my league. He is definitely going to get knocked out. They talking that they will plan the fight round-by-round. It will be one round and Austin on the ground.”
The 24-year old Hardy noted that he has never stopped training since he won his title via a ninth round TKO of Iwan Azore in January and is arguably in the best shape of his life. He also revealed he has gotten crueler.
“When I go in that ring, my plan is to hurt people. Ever since this year start I get crueler. I’m not playing. I’m going to make Austin sleep and when I put him on my pillow list it’s on to the next one,” remarked Hardy.
Will the ‘Candy Man’ suffer his first bitter defeat or will Austin fail the ‘chin check’ test? That question will be answered on March 30.
The professional segment of the card will also feature another WBC CABOFE champion, middleweight Edmond ‘Wonder Boy’ DeClou. DeClou will face Berbician pugilist Kelsie George.
The bout between DeClou, who is managed by Dog Pound Inc. and George, will be a six-round catchweight affair.
Also on the professional segment of the card will be a six-round rematch between featherweights Rudolph Fraser and Barbadian Gardel Roberts. Fraser won the first encounter last year February by a unanimous decision.
The professional segment of the card will be headlined by Mandessa Moses who is also managed by Dog Pound Inc. and Venezuelan Anys Cedillo. Moses’ and Cedillo’s bout is scheduled for eight rounds.
The amateur card will be headlined by middleweights Romeo Norville and Ron Smith while Norville’s sister Ansilla Norville will come up against Keisha Arokium in a junior flyweight contest.
Brothers Richard and Joel Williamson of the Pocket Rocket Boxing gym in Berbice are also on the card.
Richard will have a rematch with fellow Ronald Wilson Memorial Games silver medalist Dellon Charles in their bantamweight bout while Joel will match gloves with Shawn Michael in the 105 to 109–pound division.
Richard defeated Charles in their first encounter two to one.
The monthly card is an initiative of the GBBC in collaboration with the Sports Ministry and the National Communications Network (NCN).
Admission is $1,000 while children will be asked to pay half price. Bell time is 20:00 hrs.
