Never known to back down from a challenge, Mark ‘The People’s Choice’ Austin has stepped in as a late replacement to face Dexter ‘The Cobra’ Gonsalves on the ‘Battle of Contenders’ card on September 13.
Gonsalves, (6(3)-1-2) was originally scheduled to face Trinidad and Tobago-based Iwan ‘Pure Gold’ Azore (16(3)-5(4)-3) but the latter’s hand injury during sparring derailed the bout, paving the way for the Austin/Gonsalves showdown at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Austin, (9(1)-6(2)-1) will face Gonsalves in an eight- round, light welterweight fight which will be the co-feature of the evening.
Next week’s fight card is scheduled to be headlined by recently crowned Wray and Nephew Contender Series winner, Jamaican, Sakima Mullings and a combatant in the Series, Derrick ‘Lights Out’ Richmond of Guyana.
The Mullings/Richmond light middleweight bout is planned for eight rounds and will keep fight fans on the edge of their seats throughout the affair if it manages to go to the distance.
Mullings (16(11)-1-0) from Stony Hill, Jamaica is the more polished and skillful fighter but the New Amsterdam resident, Richmond (3(3)-1-1) is a known knockout artist with bone breaking power.
‘Lights Out’ has won all three of his fights via the KO route, the last one against CABOFE middleweight champion, Edmond DeClou, after breaking his jaw and shelving his career.
Put a boxer and a brawler in the ring and the contrast of styles is guaranteed to give you your monies worth.
Undercard
The undercard will feature former world No. 3 rated super bantamweight boxer, US based Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore (30(24)-3(1)-0) and Mark Murray squaring off in a six-round rematch catch weight fight.
Moore stopped Murray in the third round when their first fight took place five years ago in Linden.
Winston Pompey (3(1)-11(9)-2) will also return inside the ropes; he will face the hard-hitting Jamaican, Kemahl Russell in a four-round middleweight fight.
The journeyman Pompey who was campaigning in Suriname, will be looking to resuscitate career while Russell (2(2)-0-0) will be aiming to remain unbeaten. An all-out brawl is envisioned.
Also on the card, CABOFE flyweight champion, Dexter ‘De Kid’ Marques, will step up in weight to lace it up against Richard Williamson (4(2)-4-0) in their super bantamweight rematch scheduled for six rounds.
Marques (14(5)-2(2)-0) won the first bout last October via a unanimous decision.
Admission is $2,000 for ringside and $1000 for general seating. Bell time is 20:00 hrs.
Emerson Campbell
