By Emmerson Campbell
Undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) CABOFE welterweight champion Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy will face the toughest test of his budding career when he faces former European middleweight champion Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman on June 1.
According to executives of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), this junior middleweight 10-round match-up, will headline the 23rd edition of the Guyana Fight Night Pro Am card.
The initial headline bout between Guyana’s light heavyweight champion Kwesi ‘Lightning Struck Assassin’ Jones and Trinidad and Tobago-based Guyanese Shawn Corbin, has been cancelled because of Corbin’s unavailability.
Hardy, 24, is known as a knockout specialist. He has a record of eight wins with seven ending within the distance. However, his record pales in comparison to the 41 year-old Eastman’s record of 46 wins and nine losses with 36 knockouts.
Eastman, who has fought former world champions Edison Miranda, William Joppy and Bernard Hopkins, is battle tested and has experience on his side. Hardy has youth and his infamous left hook dubbed the ‘chin check’ which has earned him seven KO victories. The `Candy Man’s’ other claim to fame is South America’s fastest knockout, a 20-second demolition of Patrick Boston in his debut bout in October 2010.
Will the ‘Candy Man’ suffer his first bitter defeat or will ‘Battersea Bomber’ fail the ‘chin check’ test? That answer will be known on June 1.
Calls to both boxers for comments proved futile.
Meanwhile, the under card will 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.
Rudolph Fraser will face Cassius ‘Classy’ Matthews in a four-round lightweight encounter while James Walcott, a seasoned campaigner, will be up against young Kelsie George in a four-round grudge match. Walcott and George have thrown several verbal jabs at one other in the past and will have a chance to settle the score on June 1.
According to executives of the board, the card, which is normally held on the last Friday in each month was pushed back because of Independence Day celebrations.
The names of the boxers who will make up the amateur segment of the card will be announced subsequently.
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.
