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Intriguing contest envisaged, as ‘The Lion’ faces ‘Pretty Boy’ for title
By Michael Benjamin
Lennox ‘Pretty Boy’ Allen has promised to knockout Leon ‘The Lion’ Gilkes, when the two meet for the vacant super/middleweight title at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday night. However, Gilkes has dismissed Allen’s boasts as idle talk and in return promised to ‘take him on a long ride on the train.’
Leon ‘The Lion’ Gilkes (right) presumptuously thrusts a right uppercut to Allen’s jaw moments after promising to give him the thrashing of his life in their super/middleweight bout on Saturday night. Western Union/Bill Express Marketing Manager Natheeah King ‘referees’ the occasion.
After five weeks of intensive training, punctuated by vicious verbal exchanges, the two boxers spewed vitriol at each other at a press conference organised by the S&S Promotions group, at King’s Plaza, Main Street, Georgetown yesterday morning.
Indeed, ‘The Lion’ believes that the ‘square jungle’ is his natural habitat, while Allen would be out to prove that a ‘Pretty Boy’ could devour a ‘lion’ with minimal effort.
Said Gilkes, “I know that I am up against a good fighter but this fight means a lot to me and I intend to win this title.”
Without missing a beat, Allen retorted, “Earlier, I had promised that this bout would not go past four rounds, I am sticking to my prediction.” Not to be outdone Gilkes shot back, “His prediction of ending this bout in round four is impossible. I intend to give him a very long ride in the train.”
The two boxers kept up this exchange for sometime before Gilkes, in response to a question from the press said, “I regard Lennox as a friend but when that bell sounds, our friendship would be temporarily halted. This is an easy fight for me and I am prepared for 12 hard rounds.” A piped up Allen replied, “You have wasted your time preparing for so many rounds, because the fight would not last that long.”
A few weeks ago, Gilkes had agreed to fill in for Howard Eastman, against Allen, after Eastman had been detained by law enforcement officers on allegations of possession of a prohibited substance and could not keep his ring date. Hours before he was scheduled to enter the ring, Gilkes had opted out of the fight forcing the promoters to further adjust the bouts.
“I did not feel confident of putting up a good show because honestly, I was not properly prepared,” Gilkes explained. He further said that the situation has now been rectified and he is ready to cart off the title. “I am so confident of winning this fight that I am prepared to bet $100,000 that I will knock out Gilkes,” boasted Allen.
Meanwhile, Pauline London is also oozing confidence for her fight against Shelly ‘The Boom’ Gibson. Both fighters were present at the press conference but it was London who featured the most. “The Boom cannot beat me,” she emphatically stated. “Come Saturday night she will have to represent herself. She will not last three rounds,” proclaimed London. She further said that after she is finished with Gibson she would like to face her sister Pamela London, for her title.
Dexter Marques was not present at the press conference but his opponent Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore reinforced that he (Moore) was by far the more qualitative fighter. “Dexter is a youngster and had I not decided to vacate the (bantamweight) crown he would have never been able to be a champion,” Moore said.
Rated at number nine by the World Boxing Council, Moore said that his sights are on bigger achievements but he was merely accepting this fight to satisfy his fans who were craving to see a good match-up.
Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Peter Abdool disclosed that negotiations are already underway with officials from the British Boxing Board of Control to arrange a fight for the Commonwealth title for Moore.
The other bouts on the card are, Debbie Tyson versus Lindener, Sharon Warde in a 4-rounds catchweight affair, Kwesi Jones and Edmond DeClou also battle over 4 rounds.
The weigh in and medical examination take place on Friday night at the King’s Main Street Plaza and the fight, the following night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Bell time is 20:00hrs.
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