By Emmerson Campbell
Lightning is set to strike tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall when national light heavyweight champion Kwesi ‘Lightning Struck Assassin’ Jones takes on Kelsey George in a six-round affair in the 24th edition of the Guyana Fight Night Pro Am card.
During an interview with Stabroek Sport recently, the ‘Assassin’ predicted that he will take out George in the first round. That prediction was reiterated when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) held the customary prefight press conference at the National Communications Network (NCN) studios yesterday.
“Kwesi Jones is back!”, the national light heavyweight champion bellowed. “Tomorrow night lightning will strike early, but I admire him for stepping up and taking the fight but he chose the wrong time and the wrong person,” Jones boasted.
Jones who has not fought since last August (a ninth round knockout of Cleveland Fraser) is eager to shake off his ring rust and is somewhat looking past George who has lost all of his three professional fights.
The ‘Lightning Struck Assassin’ who has a record of nine wins and two losses (one against Lennox Allen) has been begging for a rematch with Allen and ring dates with former and current CABOFE light heavyweight champions Sean Corbin and Kirt ‘The Technician’ Sinnette and views George as a warm-up.
Meanwhile card headliners Rudolph Fraser and Dominica- based Guyanese Clive ‘Wonder Kid’ Atwell both exuded confidence yesterday ahead of tonight’s matchup for the local featherweight title.
Said the 36-year-old Fraser: “This is my time, I have waited for a long time for my chance. I do believe it’s my time and tomorrow night I will be the one with their hands raised, it’s do or die tomorrow night.”
The undefeated 23-year-old boasted: “I consider myself to be great, I came here to fight, I came here prepared to win and that is what I will do, it’s a win all the way, Clive Atwell is here with a little more stamina, skill to take out Rudy.”
Will George be struck by lightning and will Atwell remain unbeaten? The answer will be known tonight.
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 card will also feature debutant Gladwin Dorway 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.
