By Iva Wharton
National Coach Wencel Thomas said he has the highest confidence that the four amateur boxers scheduled to represent Guyana on the Pro-Am Card will put in a good showing at the bout set for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall today.
“I have been about national teams for a while, and this is about the best talented national team that I have been working [with] for the longest time,” Thomas said of Dennis Thomas, Stefon Gouveia, Eon Bancroft and Imran Khan.
Thomas reiterated that the quartet has both the ability and the talent to win their fights, even though they have not reached the standards he would have preferred. “They are not in the kind of condition that we as coaches would have liked to see them in. Everybody had their own little problems when we brought them together, but I think they are going to perform well,” he added. Cuba Coach Francisco Hernandez Roidan and GABA Tournament Director Terrence Poole echoed this opinion. Roidan said this is the first card that he is preparing for boxers to face opponents from another country but he expects the fighters to do their best. Rodian also said that the coaching team was not able to fully prepare the boxers as it would have liked, “but I believe in their talent. I believe in their heart and I am confident that the boxers will fight good despite winning or losing.”
He also revealed that like him, two Cuban coaches are also working with the Trinidadian boxers and as such boxing aficionados can expect four good fights in the bout.
Poole said that the boxers are now finished with intense training and are focusing on fixing niggling problems before fight night. “I don’t think we will get all, but we will see how much we could try and correct between now and then,” he said.
Asked whether the four fighters have done enough work to go out and successfully defend themselves, Poole said yes. “From the point of view Guyana to Trinidad I think each of them worked very hard and they have the potential to go a very far way. I know that boxing in front of their home crowd they will give their best,” he explained. Poole also said he has previously seen two of the Trinidadians compete in the ring; Leon Nottingham and Michael Alexander.
In speaking with the boxers, all said they would put their best efforts into the competition. Khan said despite being out of the ring for some time he believes that he has an edge over David Gonsalves in the Bantamweight category. Khan’s last fight in front of his home crowd was in 2008.
“This fight is going to be good, I fought him already in Trinidad (Michael Alexander) and he won, but I think the decision was wrong. But home in Guyana here in front of the home crowd, the training I have received is enough for me to win,” an exuberant Stefon Gouviea said. Thomas was less confident, explaining that having been out of the ring for some time he found the preparations challenging. Nevertheless he plans to give it his best shot. At the time of the interview, Eon Bancroft said he didn’t know who his opponent would be but this was not a bother to him as he is fully prepared and expects to win his bout. The card reads that Dennis Thomas will face Declan Calliste – Middleweight category; Eon Bancroft and Leon Nottingham will clash in the Welterweight category while Imran Khan is expected to meet David Gonsalves in the Bantamweight category.
Meanwhile, Mark Austin who will face Trinidad-based Iwan Azore in the main event said beating Azore should not be difficult. Austin said he has been waiting for this opportunity for some time and is ready to meet the challenge. “Right now I am mostly focusing on going and winning this title. This title is a step forward of me getting a shot at the CABOFE (Caribbean Boxing Federation),” he said. According to Austin, “If he feels that he could beat me, I will just say may the best man win. For me one, one I am the best man and the best always stands up with his hand in the air and that will be me with my hand in the air.” His coach George ‘Kanchie’ Oprecht was also optimistic about his chances, noting that he is in top form. “We are trying to polish up, but we did some gloves work with Quincy Jones yesterday (Monday) and he is heavier than Mark too, so that weight that Quincy has will give him some stamina,” he said.
The bout has been organised by the Guyana Boxing Board of Control.