By Emmerson Campbell
After capturing the local featherweight title in destructive fashion last month, Clive ‘Wonder Kid’ Atwell is brimming with confidence ahead of his ring date this Friday night against Revlon Lake.
Atwell, 23, will match gloves with the Barbados-based Lake in an eight-round junior lightweight contest in the headline bout of the 25th edition of the Guyana Fight Night Pro Am card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
“I’m stronger, I’m fit and more prepared
than the last fight – I’m in total fitness and more condition,” said Atwell yesterday when Stabroek Sport visited his training base at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Gym.
The undefeated Dominica-based ‘Wonder Kid’ who is coming off a second round TKO victory against Rudolph Fraser stated that he has not stopped training since his last ring date and will be fully prepared for Friday night’s encounter.
Said Atwell: “Preparation’s the motto, I always train hard to win easy, I always give it 110% even when the coach says rest I always want to go more.
“I haven’t stopped training since my last fight with Rudolph Fraser, matter of fact I have been in gym since the second day after the fight and I haven’t taken one day off since.”
He continued: “The coaches (Lennox Daniels and Terrence Poole) and I have been working very hard on strengthening and endurance work because the skills and the talent is there already, with all this preparation I expect to win easily,” Atwell boasted.
In an invited comment, Daniels reiterated that his charge who has a record five wins and a draw had prepared well and predicted a victory for Atwell who will be stepping up in weight.
“Preparation was great, we had over 60 to 65 rounds of sparring. I think he is in great shape and on Friday night there would not be a problem with stamina, I prefer him to fight at that weight personally I feel that’s his best weight.”
Daniels added: “We are going there for a win. I don’t think Lake is in his league. He (Atwell) is one of the smartest and most skillful boxers I have ever trained and he will have his hands up on Friday night.”
Lake, the local lightweight champion, has a record of six wins, six losses and two draws.
Will Atwell remain unbeaten or will Lake end the Wonder Kid’s winning streak? The answer will be known on Friday night.
Meanwhile the professional undercard will feature Pocket Rocket Boxing gym products bantamweight Richard Williamson and Kishawn Simon making their professional debuts.
Williamson, who had an outstanding amateur career which includes winning a silver medal at the Ronald Wilson Memorial Tournament last year in Barbados, will match gloves with another debutant Dylan Allicock while Simon will take on Patrick Boston in a catch weigh fight. Both of those bouts are scheduled for four rounds.
Gladwin Dorway, who won his debut bout last month by stopping David Thomas in the second round will also feature on the undercard. Dorway will face Anson Green who also won his debut fight against Thomas in a four- round junior welterweight affair.
Middleweights Ron Smith and Romeo Norville will headline the amateur segment of the card.
The amateur under card will feature Christopher Timmerman versus Kevon Mullings (70-74 pounds), Albert Thomas versus Orin Bancroft (90-94 pounds) and Shaka Moore versus Ryan Sumner (95-99 pounds).
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.
