With Guyana’s first world champion, Andrew ‘SixHead’ Lewis and WIBA’s bantamweight champion, Shondell ‘ Mystery Lady’ Alfred watching from ringside, Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell moved one step closer to capturing a world title of his own.
In a bloody brawl with Venezuelan knockout artist, Raphael ‘El Potro’ Hernandez (15 wins 13 KO’s) on Saturday night’s
main event at the Princess Hotel, Atwell, widely considered to be Guyana’s next world champion, put on a boxing clinic to capture the WBC CABOFE featherweight title by a unanimous decision.
However, despite putting on such a show over his toughest opponent since turning pro three years ago, the undefeated 24-year-old will always be in the shadows of the more celebrated Lewis and Alfred if he cannot emulate their achievements.
‘The Punisher’ is young, talented and dedicated to training and he has speed, stamina and a strong chin, ingredients needed to be a world champion.
With Saturday night’s win, Atwell, who improved to 10-0, 1, 5 Kos, 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 paydays as well as international exposure.
The million dollar question however is whether Atwell can win Guyana’s next world title in the tough featherweight division stacked with Mexican fighters and champions like Indonesia’s WBA champion, undefeated Chris John (48-0, 3, 22 KOs) WBC’s Daniel Ponce De Leon (44-4, 35 KOs) of Mexico, and IBF’s Evgeny Gradovich (16-0, 8 KOs) of Russia and move out of the shadows of the two prominent ringside supporters?
Only time will tell.
