Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM
Jan 26, 2011 Sports
The last time that Kurt Bess and Anthony Augustin squared off, in a previous ProAm boxing card, the latter fighter had literally beat up on the former to take a lopsided points decision. Since then Bess had rebounded with a most decisive victory over local heavyweight champion Mitchell Rogers. Buoyed by that victory he had called for a rematch insisting that he was ill prepared for the first bout.
Brimming with confidence, Augustin has obliged and on Friday night the two will step in the ring for a highly anticipated rematch when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control stages the first of such cards for the year at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) this Friday evening.
Both boxers were spouting confidence when they appeared for the pre-fight press conference in the National Communications Network studio yesterday afternoon. “I have plans for Augustin and at the end of the bout I will be victorious,” was Bess’ cagey response to a question posed by the media. “I will disrupt those plans,” retorted Augustin. “I am adjustable and would be prepared for whatever Bess delivers,” he concluded.
Pauline London was in attendance and as in the case of all press conferences she gave her opponent, Veronica Blackman, the proverbial ‘length of her tongue.’ “I like to fight rough,” London proclaimed while thrusting her face close to Blackman’s. “I will be in your face from round one to four,” she promised. In retaliation Blackman, with a look of incredulity responded, “I will give you a boxing lesson and end your career.”
Both women have trained to the hilt and feel that their chances at winning are good. London’s coach, George Oprecht was not at the forum but had earlier intimated that his charge had responded well to a hectic training period and would take the honours in this bout. Blackman’s coach, Joseph Murray scoffed at Oprecht’s proclamations while pointing out that his charge is by far the more experienced. “We will win!” was Murray’s prognosis.
Several other fighters were at the press conference and they all exuded similar confidence of winning their respective bouts. Said Mark Austin, who opposes Jermaine King, “I have defeated all comers and would not allow Jermaine to stand in the way of future bouts.” King refused to be silent, “Mark will definitely enter the ring as the favorite but I am least bothered by that. What matters to me is that at the end of the bout I will be victorious.
Lindener, Edmond DeClou did not travel to Georgetown for the forum and his opponent Winston Pompey took full advantage of this. “I am stronger and more skillful than DeClou and cannot imagine losing this contest,” he boasted. When reminded that he had surrendered his last bout to an aging Rawle Frank Pompey retorted, “I have retreated and analyzed my mistakes and when I am done with DeClou I would like to have a rematch with Frank.
Meanwhile, President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool has once again reiterated that the ProAm cards are set for a grand takeoff this year. He noted that some of the boxers have outgrown the 4 round bouts and are now ready to fight tougher bouts over longer distances. However, he pointed out that while this may be so, some of the other fighters are still to reach that level and his executives are constrained by this fact. He said that Austin and Augustin are two of the fighters that are on the verge of this transition. “But they will definitely be hampered by the paucity of adequate opposition,” exhorted the GBBC boss. He also said that plans are in train to bring in tough overseas opposition later in the year to fill this breech.
The fighters convene for weigh-in sessions at the Water Chris Hotel at 19:00hrs on Thursday while the first gong sounds at 20:00hrs the following night.
Meanwhile, the amateur bouts slated for the night are: in the 80-84lbs category, Diwani Lampkin opposes Keron Thorne while in a middleweight bout Kelsie George tackles Alfred Benjamin. Ron Smith would next oppose David Walters also in the middleweight category. In the final amateur bout Ray Sandiford would match gloves with Stephon Gouveia in a junior/welterweight shindig.
As usual NCN would provide blow by blow coverage of the proceedings while admission for those visiting the arena remains at $1000.
October 1st turn off your lights to bring about a change!
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