Shondell Alfred faces Corinne DeGroot for WIBA belt

Aug 01, 2009 Sports

Shondell Alfred (centre) affixes her signature on the document to fight Corinne DeGroot in the presence of Stanford Soloman (left) and Carwyn Holland.

After months of intense wheeling and dealing, S&S Promotions, headed by Stanford Soloman and Holland’s Entertainment Promotions, headed by Carwyn Holland, has succeeded in negotiating a world title fight, scheduled for September 26 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).
The promoters divulged that the card cost in excess of $10M and they are appealing to the business community to support the venture. The main bout pits the skills of Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred against Canadian/Guyanese, Corrine ‘Sexy Panther’ Van Dyke in a 10 rounds championship bout that nets the winner the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) bantamweight title plus bragging rights.
On that card also, Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore, fresh from a second round humiliation of Dexter Marques for the local bantamweight title, is scheduled to match gloves with Mauricio Pastrano, a mean Columbian fighter, whose awesome knockout ratio (23 knockouts from 48 fights) speaks volumes. The two are scheduled to fight for the North American Boxing Association (NABA) title and the winner has been assured of an automatic #5 spot in the World Boxing Association (WBA) rankings.

Leon 'Hurry Up' Moore signs his contract to engage Mauricio Pastrana in his title fight bid later this month.

Holland and Soloman convened a press conference at the latter promoter’s business place, Main Street Plaza, yesterday morning and broke the news to members of the media. The promoters also disclosed that several other fighters are expected to comprise the card but negotiations are still ongoing.
Alfred would attempt to be Guyana’s second female world champion, after Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil had defeated American, Kathy Rivers, to wrest the Women’s International Boxing Association light/heavyweight crown from her head. O’Neil has since surrendered that title to Laila Ali in a subsequent fight in Atlanta Georgia.
The Alfred/DeGroot bout will reinstate Guyana in the world title loop since DeGroot is a Guyanese that has migrated to Canada some time ago.
Meanwhile, Soloman is optimistic of the all round support of members of the business community. He said that the card was planned with an international flavour and corporate entities supporting the card will have an opportunity to showcase their products to the world.
Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool intimated that the way is now clear for Eastman to engage in combat since all charges against him pertaining to allegations of drug possession has been dropped. He is scheduled to engage in Barbadian, Kevin Placide in a 10 round middleweight scrap in what has been labeled a good encounter. Mitchell Rogers and Anthony Augustin will also square off in a 6 rounds heavyweight fight.

Corinne Van Ryck DeGroot

DeGroot, the promoters said, is a versatile woman who is also a movie star, a stunts woman and an American Gladiator. She is ranked by the International Women’s Boxing Federation (IWBF) and is a highly respected fighter in Canada.
Meanwhile, Abdool has congratulated the efforts of the two promoters saying it is good for the sport. He said that he has gained respect and admiration for Pastrana after he had defeated Michael Carbajal, an American fighter who had shown a lot of promise during the inaugural stages of his career.

Mauricio Pastrana

He also warned the fighters appearing on the card of the Board’s intention to stringently apply the rules pertaining to their entrance into the ring. Abdool said that officials would be very stringent in ensuring that boxers enter the ring promptly when asked to do so. “My executives have discussed the issue and we are very firm on this,” Abdool reiterated. He said that when one West Indies batsman is at the crease, the other in line to bat is already padded up awaiting his turn. “We intend to change the lax attitudes demonstrated by local boxers,” Abdool asserted. “We also want to deliver a qualitative card that fans would not forget,” he concluded.
Responding to the promoters, Leon Moore voiced his appreciation while encouraging the public to come out in their numbers. “Boxing is definitely on the rise again so I would like to encourage the all round support of the government, sponsors and patrons,” he pleaded.
Alfred views the bout as an opportunity she has been awaiting to showcase her vast talents. “I have waited for some time for this opportunity and I am not about to let it slip by,” she said. “I am going into the gym to work hard and I look forward to the support of all Guyanese,” she concluded.
The promoters are still working on a feasible price structure for admission. They have promised to keep that fee within a reasonable framework. The fighters opened camp yesterday afternoon at gyms around the city.