Gym mates from the Harpy Eagles Gym James Walcott and Rudolph Fraser are both brimming with confidence ahead of their respective bouts on June 1 when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) stages its 23rd edition of its Pro Am initiative. Walcott will face Berbician Kelsie George in a four- round catch-weight bout while Fraser will take on Lindener Cassius ‘Classy’ Matthews in a lightweight matchup which will also be for four rounds.
During an interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday at their training base in Albouystown, the duo signaled their intentions for their respective opponents.
The 38-year-old Walcott who said he has been training for three weeks so far for his fight with the 21-year-old George, said he plans on teaching the ‘amateur’ a lesson.
Said Walcott: “He just started fighting and he feels he could beat me, he is still an amateur. I’m going to teach him a lesson what is the difference between an amateur boxer and a senior boxer, I think he still supposed to be an amateur. It’s going to be like a father putting his child in line.”
Walcott continued: “I don’t have any strategy with George but I know he would give me a good one round workout and that’s it. I mean coming out from the first round he gonna try his best but after then it’s my fight, he only good for one round I don’t predict to knockout nobody but if it do come it comes I’m going to take it, he gotto get ready for four tough rounds, if he can’t go four tough rounds he gotto stay in his corner and chuck,” said Walcott.
Walcott who has a record of one win, six losses and one draw in his eighth-year professional career said he is so confident of defeating George who has two losses in his two professional fights, that he was willing to make the fight a ‘winner take all’ affair.
Walcott who is also a coach at the Harpy Eagles gym noted that when he is finished with George, he wants a crack at either Edmond DeClou (Guyana and CABOFE middleweight champion) or Guyana’s light heavyweight champion Kwesi ‘Lightning Struck Assassin’ Jones for their respective local titles.
Fraser, meanwhile, said once he disposes of Matthews he wants to fight for the local vacant featherweight title.
“I’m looking to fight either (Clive)Atwell and (Ray) Sandiford June monthend for the 126 title (featherweight). I’m a featherweight fighter – that is what I really want, the title is vacant and I believe its belongs to me,” boasted Fraser.
Fraser said he has no predictions for his fight except that he will be victorious, as Matthews is just a “nut waiting to crack.”
Said Fraser: “I’m going to win that is the only prediction; I personally don’t talk about knocking out anybody. A knockout is something that comes, when you go looking for a knockout sometimes you get embarrassed but if he comes I got the tools, but I see Cassius fought some people and I personally think he is a nut just waiting to crack once he’s there and it comes it could be an early night.”
Fraser’s record stands at six wins, two losses and one draw while Matthews’ record reads four wins, six losses and one draw.
Meanwhile the professional segment of the card will be headlined by Jones and Trinidad and Tobago-based Guyanese Shawn Corbin for the former’s title.
The undercard will also feature Trinidad and Tobago-based Guyanese Iwan ‘Pure Gold’ Azore matching gloves with undefeated CABOFE junior welterweight champion Barbadian Miguel ‘Hands of Stone’ Antoine in a six-round junior welterweight contest.
The names of the boxers who will make up the amateur segment of the card will be announced subsequently.
According to executives of the board, the card which is normally held on the last Friday in each month was pushed back one day later because of Independence Day celebrations.
The monthly card is an initiative of the GBBC in collaboration with the Sports Ministry and the National Communications Network (NCN).
Sponsors of the event include Digicel, Giftland Office Max, Courts, Banks DIH Limited and ANSA McAL. Admission is $1,000 while children will be asked to pay half price. Bell time is 20:00 hrs.
