Hours before inking a restructured contract to headline the ‘Firestorm’ card billed for April 20 at the Princess Hotel, three- division champion, Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell held a press briefing at the Town To Country Real Estate Services yesterday to announce his partnership with the company.
The Duncan Street, real estate entity which is managed by Eurie Hohenkirk will be supporting Atwell, the reigning national featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight CABOFE champion before and after next month’s bout versus Venezuelan knock out artist Rafael Hernandez for the CABOFE featherweight title.
Hohenkirk stated that “this is just the beginning” of his partnership with the undefeated Atwell as he thinks “the sky is the limit” for the talented boxer.
Atwell who had told Stabroek Sport in an interview earlier this month that without corporate support “it would be an uphill task to capture a world title” intimated that he just has to focus on taking care of business inside of the ring now that he has a sponsor on board as well as a more lucrative contract.
Atwell did not sign his contract on Tuesday because of what he called a “chicken feed purse”. His contract has been revised by the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) and now ‘The Punisher’ can now focus on the biggest bout of his career.
“I am more at ease now I don’t have to worry about my pay day or my preparation for the fight” declared Atwell. “So boxing fans, come out and support the card next month, I will be ready and I am confident of a victory”
With a major sponsor now onboard, Atwell said he must give thanks for the gesture and stated that he will be distributing 100 kites to the youths of Agricola to celebrate the Easter festivities. The kite sharing will commence today at 13:00 at the Rome Methodist Church.
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.
Meanwhile, other bouts on the card will see super middleweights Mahmood ‘The Extractor’ Loul and Derrick Richmond going at it through a scheduled four rounder.
Gladwin Dorway will take on Mark Austin for the vacant junior middleweight championship, Elton ‘The Bully’ Dharry versus Hewley Robertson for the vacant national bantamweight title and Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman versus Jamaica, Sakima Mullings for the vacant CABOFE welterweight crown.
