Boxing Board officials inspired by ProAm results

Jul 07, 2010 Sports

– anticipates rapid future development

By Michael Benjamin

Former Secretary of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Trevor Arno is extremely pleased at the general impact the ProAm Boxing cards has had on Guyanese boxing fans. He is also optimistic that the programme would develop into immense proportions in a very short time.

Trevor Arno

Mr. Arno also divulged the names of the fighters for the sixth edition, scheduled for Friday July 30 next, while promising another night of fistic fury. In the first fight, Mark Austin, who commenced his professional debut with a points decision win over the more experienced Cecil Smith, will face another experienced fighter in Shawn Pyle in a junior/welterweight showdown.

While Austin has proven himself in his debut bout, he may find Pyle quite a handful. The latter fighter has had a successful run so far in the ProAm cards, notching up victories over Paul Lewis (Jr), who he disposed of within one round and Clifton Barker, who he out-muscled to win on points. The odds would clearly be in Pyle’s favour but boxing is a mercurial sport where nothing is absolute.

Edmond DeCleau whose epic encounters against Kwesi ‘Assassin’ Jones has made him a favourite with boxing buffs will match gloves with Troy Lewis. The latter fighter has just finished serving out a ban instituted by executives of the GBBC for his infamous ‘brawl after the bell’ encounter against Iwan Azore. He will have to be wary of DeCleau, whose awesome punching power and staunch determination has seen him through three brawls against Jones. He came out victorious in one of them. Lewis is a strong fighter and would be out to prove that his first round knockout over Rudolph Fraser in an earlier edition of the ProAm cards was no fluke.

Debbie Tyson has had a lengthy hiatus from the sport after notching up a win from two fights. However, she has been in the gym honing her skill and believes that the time has now arrived for a grand re-entry into the ‘square jungle.’ Her opponent is Pauline London who has recently dished out a first class licking on Shelly ‘The Boom’ Gibson. She then dropped a points decision to Sharon Ward and has been longing for an opportunity to redeem herself. How well she will handle the Tyson fight is anybody’s guess.

Anthony Augustin needs no introduction to the boxing public. He drew his first bout against Clyde Williams before losing out to Mitchell Rogers in his second. Undaunted, he returned to capture a lopsided points decision over Leon ‘The Lion’ Gilkes. He is now ready to throw down the gauntlet, this time against Kurt Best, a mean fighter who also packs a punch.

Best’s claim to fame is the heavyweight contest against Trinidadian heavyweight, Kirston Manswell when the two met on the under card of the Pamela London/Margaret Salazar world title bout at the Splashmins Resort. He lost that bout but not before turning in a spirited performance that set the venue alight. This will be a fight between two strong punchers and it would be a surprise if the fight lasts the full distance.

Meanwhile, Mr. Arno believes that the fever is catching. He ascribed this to feedback received after each card. He said that even though the actual attendance has been minimal, the evidence suggests that many people view the bouts via the television. This he said is commendable and would serve to achieve the objective of the programme which includes the constant exposure of amateur boxers to the public, the creation of a platform for the professionals to enhance their records as well as to allow local promoters to assess the available talent locally for future bouts.

Quizzed on the longevity of the programme, Mr. Arno revealed that the executive of the GBBC is prepared for the long haul. He further said that a review of activities would be conducted by yearend to determine the success of the project as well as to fill any breaches that could compromise the cards. “We aim to make ProAm boxing as competitive and attractive as possible,” said Mr. Arno. He is also appealing to the corporate community to render support since such support is the oxygen of the programme.

The boxers are scheduled to convene at the offices of Abdool and Abdool for the signing of contracts later today.

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