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O’Neil in line for title shot
Gwendolyn O'Neil
Former Women’s International Boxing Council (WIBC) and International Boxing Association (WIBA), light/heavyweight champion, Gwendolyn O’Neil may yet get a chance to reclaim the titles she lost to Carlette Ewell in St Maarten, recently, once current negotiations with the Bobby Uttley Promotions in St Maarten bear fruit.
O’Neil made this disclosure when Kaieteur Sport contacted her moments after she had concluded her roadwork exercises at the National Park, yesterday morning.
She said that she is awaiting word from her management team Ceon Bristol and Diane Rodrigues who are currently in New York making the necessary arrangements. O’Neil further informed that she has already begun preparations for the bout, as she is intent on regaining her lost belts.
Kaieteur Sport contacted O’Neil’s agent American, Rodrigues and Bristol in New York yesterday. Rodrigues disclosed that she is presently engaging Uttley in discussions to make the third encounter a reality. She said that when she last spoke with the promoter he was working feverishly to tie up negotiations as well as secure adequate corporate support for the bout. Rodrigues noted that should Uttley succeed in the acquisition of solid corporate backings then the fight would take place in St Maarten on Saturday March 1.
Rodrigues also promised to visit Guyana sometime next month during which time she hopes to commence negotiations with the management team of Trinidadian Iva Weston for a future bout against O’Neil shortly after her return from the Dutch-speaking Island. The bout is scheduled for the Twin Island Republic, soon.
Should these negotiations fall through, Rodrigues said that her next option would be to travel to Europe and engage Natascha Agosina in a 10 rounder. She said that she had already commenced negotiations for this bout that would have taken place in Trinidad. However, Weston had weighed 175 pounds, far too much weight to overlook. Rodrigues said that Weston has managed to shave her weight down to a respectable 168 pounds paving the way for continued negotiations.
Quizzed on the status of the Ewell fight Rodrigues replied, “While the fight with Ewell is supposed to be for the WIBA and the WIBC titles I cannot guarantee another world title opportunity if this fight falls through.”
Kaieteur Sport caught up with O’Neil minutes after she returned home from early morning sessions at the
Carlette Ewell
National Park. She said that Rodrigues and Bristol are working feverishly to make the Ewell rematch a reality. She said that she has already commenced her training regiment, which includes early morning exercises in the National Park and afternoon sessions at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Gym in LaPenitence.
O’Neil, who lost the second encounter against Ewell, feels confident that she can reverse the decision this time around. “The last time I fought Ewell I had given her a good thrashing but the judges apparently was looking at another fight,” she declared. O’Neil also stated that the beating she had dished out to Ewell had been more severe than the one meted out to Kathy Rivers.”
Quizzed on the expected results of the third encounter O’Neil emphatically stated. I will take back my belts.” O’Neil is currently undergoing a rigid exercise regiment in the mornings at the National Park under the tutelage of coach Lennox ‘Cappel’ Daniels.
Meanwhile, Kaieteur Sport managed to speak with O’Neil’s promoter and matchmaker, Ceon Bristol who is also in New York. He said that while he is unable to shed any new light on the O’Neil/Ewing bout, he is aware that negotiations are underway. Bristol who had accompanied O’Neil on her last trip to St Maarten said that he was convinced that his charge had won that fight. Bristol is excited about the third encounter and he is confident that O’Neil will prevail this time around. He is also awaiting word from St Maarten on developments. He said that the last time he spoke with the promoters, they had informed him that they were in the process of soliciting adequate sponsorship for the bout. He is awaiting further word.
Meanwhile, Rodrigues revealed that she has recently inked a deal with Shondell Alfred that gives her the right to negotiate fights on behalf of the Guyanese. Alfred has recently given birth to baby girl and was unable to engage in boxing activities. She is now ready to re-enter the fray.
To this end, Alfred’s agent said that she is currently negotiating a bout in Uruguay for the Guyanese. The name of her opponent will be announced soon.
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