By Emmerson Campbell
Guyana’s welterweight champion Iwan ‘Pure Gold’ Azore will headline this month’s 26th edition of the Guyana Fight Night Pro Am card on November 30, when he puts his title on the line against Mark Austin.
The bout, which will be staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, was made official yesterday at the contract signing which took place at the Abdool and Abdool Building, Avenue of the Republic.
The 30-year-old Azore is a battle-tested southpaw, who boasts a record of 15 wins (three KOs), five losses and three draws, while Austin’s record reads seven wins, four losses and a draw.
The Trinidad and Tobago-based Azore was not on hand to ink his contract, but Austin confidently disclosed his fight night intentions.
“I am a far better fighter than Azore. I will be putting out my works and put him to sleep,” Austin boasted yesterday. “I am using this fight as a stepping stone to bigger things and when I win this title I will have to get a chance at the CABOFE title.”
When Austin was reminded that the CABOFE welterweight title is held by Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy, who knocked him out in March, he rebutted:
“I would not consider that a loss because before me and Hardy fought I was in the lock ups, not training, I was in there not getting to train or nothing and I came out the day before the weigh-in and still gave him hell. But now I’m out and training so expect bigger things starting with Azore, because he next – then Hardy.”
Austin continued, “I already sent my orders in, so when I’m done with Azore, Hardy could be next. I’m training very serious now and everything in order so let them come.”
The Pro Am card will also include young and exciting pugilists Gladwin Dorway, Richard Williamson and Kishan Simon.
Dorway, who has knockout victories in both of his two professional fights, will take on journeyman Cassius ‘Classy’ Matthews in a six-round junior welterweight bout.
Williamson will face veteran Rudolph Fraser in a featherweight six rounder.
Simon, a Berbice High School graduate, will be matching gloves with 42-year-old Patrick Boston in a four-round catch-weight return fight. Simon lost the first encounter in July via a majority decision
The card was initially scheduled to be headlined by CABOFE cruiserweight champion, Trinidad and Tobago-based Guyanese Sean Corbin and the local heavyweight champion Kurt Bess in a catch-weight contest. However the latter’s reluctance to step in the ring has postponed the bout.
The boxers who will do battle on the amateur segment of the card are still unknown.
The monthly card is an initiative of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (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.
