The headline bout of the 31st edition of the Guyana Fight Night Pro Am card which was initially scheduled for 12 championship rounds will now be a 10-round non-title contest.
According to match maker of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Eon Jardine, newly crowned national super middleweight champion, Derrick ‘Lights Out’ Richmond 3(3)-1-1 is not prepared to put his title on the line against Howard ‘ Battersea Bomber’ Eastman 47(37)-12(2)-0 just one month after earning it.
When contacted yesterday, the southpaw reiterated his stance, rightfully stating that he has 90 days to defend the title which he won via a fourth round stoppage of James Walcott at the MacKenzie Sports Club on Boxing Day.
Eastman meanwhile said he is disappointed with Richmond’s decision but will take out his frustration on his opponent who is 19 years younger.
The Pro Am card dubbed ‘Berbician Invasion’ will be staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and is scheduled to become official when the professional pugilists signed their contracts sometime next week.
The 24-year old Richmond who has a TKO victory over CABOFE middleweight champion, Edmond DeClou before knocking out Walcott to lift the then vacant national super middleweight belt, will look to continue his winning ways against the 43-year old battle tested ‘Battersea Bomber’ who has lost six of his last seven fights.
Despite having his best days behind him, Eastman who has fought former and current world champions, Bernard ‘The Executioner’ Hopkins, William Joppy and Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis still has what it takes to pound out a victory as he proved in his last fight against Mark Austin last August.
An all-out brawl is envisaged.
In the main supporting bout of the evening, boxer/brawler, Gladwin Dorway 4(4)-1-0 will match gloves with slugger Kelsie George 0-6(2)-2 in a six-round middleweight bout.
Also the undercard, organisers from the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) will pit new sensation, Richard Williamson 3(1)-4(2)-0 against David Thomas 1(1)-3(1)-0 in a four-round super featherweight contest.
The first professional bout of the event will see undefeated welterweight, Laured ‘Nightmare’ Stewart 2(1)-0-0 taking on journey man, Cassius’ Classy’ Matthews 5-8(4)-2. The Stewart/Matthews fight is scheduled for four rounds.
Richmond, Eastman, Williamson, George and Dorway all hail from the Ancient County.
Names of the pugilists who will match gloves on the amateur segment of the card will be announced subsequently.
Tickets will cost $1000 and the first bell is scheduled to sound at 20:00hrs. (Emmerson Campbell)
