Elton ‘The Guyanese Gladiator’ Dharry is ready to shake off some ring-rust.
The United States of America based bantamweight informed Stabroek Sport yesterday that he will be matching gloves with Nicaraguan, Julio Buitrago on July 17 at the Forster Community Centre in Rock Rapids, Iowa.
Dharry, who got the confirmation of his opponent yesterday, stated that he will use the ring date as a tune up fight for the more important title bout here in September where he is scheduled to headline the ‘Superhero’ fight card.
The 35 year-old was scheduled to fight in Panama last month, but that bout failed to materialize.
He has since parted ways with his promotional company, Havoc Boxing.
However, despite being self promoted at the moment, he was able to secure a fight prior to the ‘Superhero’ card in three months.
Dharry who has not fought since 2019, sees Buitrago ( 13-28-0) as stepping stone to sharpen his tools ahead of his September bout.
“We are just going to have to take this guy for a tune-up fight, shake this ring rust off and take on whoever they put in front of me in Guyana,” Dharry said yesterday.
The prize-fighter stated that he had wanted a better quality opponent but will have to settle for the Buitrago challenge.
“We had two decent opponents from Mexico, but they didn’t have travelling documents but my opponent is a Nicaraguan living in Miami, so he is already here. My plan was always to get a tune-up fight here in the States before coming home. I don’t want to come rusty because I haven’t fought since my last fight in Australia.”
Following a failed bid to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight title in November, 2019 and an inactive 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dharry, knows that the clock is ticking on his prime.
He said he is re-energized after a lengthy time away from the ring and his mind and body is ready to take on all challenges in 2021.
According to Dharry, he is scheduled to fight a Brazilian for the World Boxing League (WBL) belt in September and he currently has his hard hat on in the gym working on his strengths and weaknesses.
“I’m working a lot on my strength this time looking for knockouts. I had some injuries over the year but I am healed up now to do my proper strength training to where I can look for the knockouts again.”
Dharry has been training at the Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn and the Blue Line Gym in New Jersey and has armed himself with a new addition to his camp, Coach Scott Burrell.
Dharry (24-6-1, 14KOs) he will be looking for KO number 15 next month in an effort to propel him to a title shot.
