By Emmerson Campbell
“I am his stumbling block, he got some issues with accepting the fight, and I can’t say if he’s scared or not but I was confident on giving him a thrashing, He not confident of beating me, here is a big full stop and a question mark also because what is the reason he doesn’t want to fight me”?
Words proclaimed by Rudolph Fraser yesterday at the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) gym as to why Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) bantamweight champion, US-based Guyanese Elton ‘Coolie Bully’ Dharry pulled out of their super bantamweight title bout which was scheduled for June 29.
Fraser will now face Dominican-based Guyanese Clive ‘Wonder Kid’ Atwell for the local featherweight title in the headline bout of the 24th edition of the Guyana Fight Night Pro Am card.
During the interview with Stabroek Sport after Fraser completed a glove session at the gym, the confident pugilist spoke about his new opponent, his training and also threw verbal jabs at the ‘Coolie Bully’ who he said is probably scared to step in the ring with him.
Said Fraser “I am confident of fighting anybody, everybody have their time you don’t ‘pope’ this line and I feel Dharry was just ‘poping’ the line, he never was in the ring with someone like me. He fought a lot of washed up fighters”. He continued “There are many reasons but I feel that he is scared of me and I feel that is the reason he didn’t take the fight. I’m 99% sure that Dharry isn’t ready for me” Fraser boasted.
Fraser, who has a record of six wins, two losses and a draw, mentioned that although he views Atwell, as a tougher opponent than Dharry, the victory is still assured.
“I think he (Atwell) is a better boxer than Dharry and I view him as a tougher test than Dharry but I am more comfortable at this weight (featherweight) and I’m always confident so Atwell does not make a difference, whatever he brings to the table I’m sure I could handle it”. The 26-year old ‘Wonder Kid’ has a record of four wins and a draw.
The 35-year old who fought to a draw with Cassius ‘Classy’ Matthews earlier this month noted that he will be more prepared for Atwell as there will be no shortage of sparring partners, a disadvantage he suffered preparing for the Matthews fight.
When asked about his prediction for his upcoming ring date with Atwell Fraser replied “I never say that I will knock my opponent out but what I know is at the end of 12 rounds, my hand will be risen. I will be the champion”.
Fraser intimated that after he blemishes the record of the undefeated Atwell he will turn his attention to the CABOFE featherweight title.
The undercard will feature Edmond ‘Wonder Boy’ DeClou, the CABOFE and local middleweight champion coming up against Trinidad and Tobago-based Joel McRae for the national title.
The DeClou/McRae fight will be a trilogy. The ‘Wonder Boy’ won the previous bouts by decisions, the last for the local interim super middleweight title last July.
The ‘Wonder Boy’ will be looking to win impressively before he enters the lucrative World Boxing Council’s 50th anniversary World Cup which boxes off in August.
The card will also feature Guyana’s light heavyweight champion, Kwesi ‘Lightning Struck Assassin’ Jones taking on Kelsie George in a six-round light heavyweight contest while debutant Gladwin Dorway will look to start his career on a positive note against David Thomas in a four-round junior welterweight matchup.
Joel Williamson and Matthew Hollingsworth will match gloves in the headline bout of the amateur segment of the card in a 105 to 109 pound fight. On the undercard, Shaka Moore will take on Ryan Sumner of Rose Hall Jammers in a 95 to 99-pound bout. In an 85 to 89-pound encounter Tefon Green will come up against Albert Thomas.
The undercard will also feature Ryan Persaud matching gloves with Elijah Insanally (75 to 79 pounds). All bouts are scheduled for three rounds. 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.
The monthly card is an initiative of the GBBC in collaboration with the Sports Ministry and the National Communications Network (NCN).
