If the verbal jabs thrown at yesterday’s press conference were the calm before the storm, tomorrow night’s mega card dubbed ‘Fire Storm’ will set the Princess Hotel ablaze.
Local undefeated pound for pound king and multi division champion Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell talked up a storm ahead of his CABOFE featherweight title fight against Venezuelan knockout artist, Raphael Hernandez, boldly predicting a victory even if it came in a bloody fashion.
“I am a man on a mission” the reigning national featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight CABOFE champion declared. “I like a lot of money and Hernandez is a threat to my money, I will have to deal with that, if we have to get bloody, it will be bloody but I will win this fight no doubt about that”.
“The last time a fighter came here to fight me (Trinidadian, Prince Lee Isidore) and a lot of money was at stake we all know the beating he got, we can expect the same for Hernandez” ‘The Punisher’ boasted.
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.
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.
Hernandez through his interpreter stated that he did not come all the way to Guyana to boast but he is ready and prepared and would let his fists do the talking tomorrow night.
The Venezuelan mentioned however that he will not be going for the knockout but if the opportunity presents itself he will surely finish the headline bout before the scheduled 12.
Will ‘The Punisher’ remain undefeated or will Hernandez be crowned the new featherweight champion? That question will be answered tomorrow night.
The undercard of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC)-promoted event is also stacked with boxing action as three more titles will be up for grabs.
Forty six-year old Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman (46-13, 2, 35 KOs) will step into the ring against 30-year old Jamaican, Sakima Mullings (11-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant CABOFE welterweight crown.
In a highly anticipated matchup, undefeated knockout specialist Gladwin Dorway (4-0, 4 KOs) will trade blows with Mark Austin (8-5, 1, 1 KO) for the vacant junior middleweight championship and Elton ‘The Bully’ Dharry (12-5, 1, 6 KOs) will take on journeyman Orlan ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers (5-15) for the vacant national bantamweight title.
Mahmood ‘The Extractor’ Loul (1-0, 1 KO) will also face Derrick Richmond (0-1) in a scheduled four-round super middleweight fight.
Two amateur fights are also carded. Quincy Boyce of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will face Keron Griffith of Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym (PRBG), while Candacy Benjamin (GDF) will meet Akesia Arokium (PRBG).
Boxers will weigh in tonight at the Princess Hotel at 19:00hrs.
VIP tickets will cost $10,000 while ringside and outer ringside will cost $5000 and $2500 respectively.
Sponsors for the card include Digicel, Banks DIH Limited, Assuria Insurance, Guyoil, Ansa McAL, Giftland Office Max and Courts Guyana Inc
Bell time is 19:00hrs.
