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Battle of warriors as Jones goes after Eastman in historic title fight
It’s four days away from the March edition of the monthly ProAm boxing card, scheduled for this Friday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) and Kwesi ‘Assassin’ Jones, wary of the quality of his opponent, Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman, has heightened his preparations, knowing that he will have to wage a ferocious battle if he is to replicate his unanimous decision victory in their non-title bout in September last year.
Carol Ann Bess (left) and Teresa London shortly after wrapping up training sessions yesterday morning
Indeed, if Jones loses this bout, it certainly would not be for a lack of fitness. Come to think of it, the lanky Jones who operates out of the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym (ALBG) would be hard pressed to label a loss to a lack of knowledge but more from application.
Yesterday morning his coach, George ‘Kanchi’ Oprecht pushed him to the limit and from all appearances it is Eastman who will have to be circumspect of his opponent instead of the other way around. Jones boxed 12 blistering rounds between heavyweight Kurt Bess, Winston Pompey and Eversley Browne shortly before turning his attention to the heavy punching bag, the speed ball and a lengthy session of skipping. He rounded off sessions with vigorous calisthenics.
Oprecht was pleased with the application demonstrated by his charge and even though Jones remained guarded in his predictions, Oprecht boldly stated that his charge will knock out Eastman. “I had a first hand look at what Eastman has to offer when he fought Jones last September and I am confident that Jones will repeat the win,” exhorted Oprecht. He further acknowledged that Jones would have to improve on his fitness if he is to win the bout. “This is why I have intensified the workload and am demanding that Jones work much harder,” explained Oprecht.
Jones’ work ethic appears to be far improved as he went after Pompey. The two fighters exchanged vicious salvoes that belied the fact that they were actually preparing for a bout and the unsuspecting spectator would have thought that they were actually competing for championship honours. The intensity of the sessions with Browne and Bess further underlined this belief.
Browne also looked good in his preparations and has promised to transfer his application to the ring on fight night. He faces Lindener, Edmond DeClou in a super/middleweight clash over 4 rounds. If the action witnessed in the gym means anything, then DeClou can expect a tough bout and the spectators, an action packed contest. The latter fighter trains out of the Young Lion’s Boxing Gym, Wismar Linden. When this reporter spoke with him earlier last week he had intimated that he was being trained by Dirk Alexander and that his training was going fine. DeClou has further promised that he would take the honours in the 4 rounds super/middleweight clash.
Trainer, George Oprecht supervises as Jones (right) and Pompey exchange leathers during sparring sessions yesterday
The other two bouts scheduled for Friday night will see Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy opposing Cassius Matthews in a four rounds welterweight scrap while Sharon Ward comes up against Veronica Blackman in a 4 rounds catchweight affair. The boxers will appear on National Communications Network (NCN) tomorrow afternoon for the pre-fight press conference and return for the weigh in ceremony at the Water Chris Hotel, Waterloo Street on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, the amateur boxers comprising the other segment of the card are also in training and are rearing to go. Among them are lightweight Teresa London and junior/flyweight Carol Ann Bess, the two boxers selected to represent this country in the World Female Junior and Youth Games scheduled for Turkey from April 21-May 1. London opposes Amanda Charles while Bess squares off with Ansilla Norville. Then there is the welterweight bout featuring Republican Nankumar Singh, recently adjudged the most exciting amateur boxer when the GBBC held its awards ceremony. He will box with Mark George while Romano Clarke will square off against Nankumar’s gym mate, Delroy Nero, also in the junior/welterweight division.
The fights get underway from 20:00hrs on Friday March 25 next and those unable to go to the venue can tune in to NCN channel eleven for a live blow by blow broadcast. Otherwise, admission remains at an affordable $1000. The first bell sounds at 20:00hrs.
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