With days to go until the long-awaited fight between local pound for pound King, Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell and Dexter ‘The Cobra’ Gonsalves, the buzz is palpable.
Multiple fighters have weighed in and chosen the winner for the vacant WBC FECARBOX super lightweight title.
Recently, former sparring partner of both boxers, Jermin King declared that the much-reviled ‘Cobra’ would come out on top, claiming that the Punisher’s reach disadvantage could be the key factor should he suffer his first professional loss on home soil. “It’s a good fight, both of them are good guys and good friends but I’m still giving Dexter the edge because he has the reach and power in both hands.”
King who now campaigns in Brooklyn, New York, added “Everybody saying that because Clive fought for a world title and did well that he’s going to beat Dexter but Dexter can adapt. Like I said I sparred with both of these guys before and I know their strengths and weaknesses. But if you never seen Dexter on top of his game, in this fight you will.”
The talented, hard-hitting ‘Cobra’ suffered his only loss in 2011, but has since rebounded in a big way. In his sixth straight win since the record blemish as a junior lightweight, the 25 year old has since defeated his last three opponents within the distance, including Revlon Lake for the national lightweight title.
Whoever the fighter was that Michel Agard won against nine years ago in Trinidad is gone now. The ‘Cobra’ of today is a legitimate light welterweight. And a win for Gonsalves over Atwell would not just derail the Punisher’s hype train. It would rev up the engine of Gonsalves’ own notoriety and catapult him into a household name in Guyana and further afield. He is an exciting fighter.
However, to knock Atwell from Guyana’s pound for pound perch is a herculean task.
Whichever fighter you think will come out on top on October 24 at the Giftland Mall, remember that Stabroek News will have all the pre-fight goodies you could ask for, from previews and predictions to odds and more. The countdown has begun. (Emmerson Campbell)
