After weighing in at 126 and 125 pounds respectively, Raphael ‘El Potro’ Hernandez and multiple division title holder, Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell stood with their faces inches apart, their mouths moving at a rapid-fire pace as they shouted at one another.
If last night’s weigh in was the calm before the storm, tonight’s headline bout of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) mega event dubbed ‘Fire Storm’ set for the Princess Hotel, will be a scorcher.
On one of the most career defining and talked about cards in years, either Hernandez or Atwell will emerge as the new WBC CABOFE featherweight champion and perhaps get a shot at the World title in the not too distant future.
With a victory, Hernandez or Atwell will 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.
Both boxers displayed chiseled physiques at last night’s weigh in and are ready and fully prepared to do battle in the biggest fight of their respective careers.
“The work has been done,” declared Atwell, the reigning national featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight CABOFE title holder. “Knowing the work has been done takes away all the butterflies, it has been seven intense weeks of training, it now time for war.”
Said Hernandez through his interpreter:“I am ready mentally, I am ready physically, let us get it on, I cannot wait to get in the ring.”
The 30-year old southpaw, Hernandez boasts a record of 15 wins (13 KO’s) three losses and two draws and will enjoy a reach advantage over the boxer/brawler Atwell. Hernandez will look to establish his jab to breach Atwell’s stoic defense but The Punisher’s punching power and his in ring pressure could wear down ‘El Potro’.
In his 10 fights since making his professional debut in January, 2010, Atwell, the unbeaten 24-year old pugilist’s record stands at nine wins and a draw. Five of those wins came by way of knockout last year. An all out battle in envisaged.
Will ‘The Punisher’ remain undefeated or will ‘El Potro’ be crowned the new featherweight CABOFE champion? That question will be answered tonight.
Three other title fights of fistic fury are anticipated to engulf the venue.
Forty two-year old Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman who weighed in at the 147-pound welterweight limit (46-13, 2, 35 KOs) will step into the ring against 30-year old Jamaican, Sakima Mullings (11-1, 7 KOs) who scaled 145 pounds for the vacant CABOFE welterweight crown and a chance to enter the lucrative WBC Cup.
In a highly anticipated matchup, undefeated knockout specialist Gladwin Dorway (4-0, 4 KOs) who weighed in at 149 pounds will trade blows with Mark Austin (8-5, 1, 1 KO) who weighed in at 154 pounds 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.
Loul weighed 169 pounds while Richmond came in eight pounds lighter.
Two amateur fights are also carded. Quincy Boyce of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will face Keron Griffith of Rose Hall Jammers (RHJ) Gym, while Candacy Benjamin (GDF) will meet Akesia Arokium (RHJ).
Tickets are on sale at Courts (Guyana) Inc., Gizmos and Gadgets and Nigel’s Supermarket.
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.
