“It has been a while since Guyana crowned a world champion, we sportsmen and women have the talent to make Guyana proud but that can only happen with considerable support “said the reigning national featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight CABOFE champion who is seeking support for his next ring date this month end and beyond.
During the recent sit down with Stabroek Sport, the undefeated pugilist stated that he is scheduled to face Venezuelan knock out artist Rafael Hernandez for the CABOFE featherweight title at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on March 30 and with adequate support he will be able to offset the preparatory expenses for the bout.
“I have achieved a lot since my amateur days without top nutrition and training facilities so much more if I have adequate support, we as sportsmen need the support and respect to achieve our true potential to make this nation proud” Atwell declared.
With a victory against Hernandez who boasts a record of 15 wins (13 KO’s) three losses and two draws, Atwell will be eligible to enter the lucrative World Boxing Council (WBC) Cup which will box off in June.
The WBC Cup is a tournament to celebrate the WBC’s 50th anniversary.
It will allow boxers in the tournament from all around the world to receive lucrative pay days as well as international exposure.
The winner of each division in the WBC Cup will walk away with US$250,000 (50 million Guyana dollars) and even from the very first round of elimination fighters as CABOFE champions, according to reports, will earn as much as US$20,000 (four million Guyana dollars) to US$30,000 (six million Guyana dollars) for the losers and US$50,000 (10 million Guyana dollars) to US$70,000 (14 million Guyana dollars) for the winners, sums that are usually not readily available at this stage of the career of most of the fighters.
In his 10 fights since making his professional debut in January, 2010, the 24-year old pugilist’s record stands at nine wins and a draw.
Five of those wins came by way of knockout last year.
In June last year, Atwell stopped Rudolph Fraser in round two to capture the local featherweight crown.
One month later in a non title fight versus the then lightweight champion, Revlon Lake, the referee was forced to stop the carnage in the fourth stanza.
Atwell then followed up that scintillating performance by grounding Orlan ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers in round five on October 13.
Thirteen days later, arguably Guyana’s best boxer dismantled Trinidad and Tobago’s, Prince Lee Isidore to capture the junior welterweight CABOFE title.
‘The Punisher’ then rounded out 2012 by stopping Lake in the third round in their lightweight title fight two days after Boxing Day.
Atwell can be reached on Facebook, by email (cliveatwell@yahoo.com) or via telephone number 642-9961.
Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred captured Guyana’s last world championship when she defeated Corinne DeGroot by unanimous decision in September of 2009 for the vacant WIBA bantamweight title.
