Latest update April 7th, 2025 6:08 AM
Shaheed Ali confident of successful professional debut as ProAm Boxing card looms
When the first bell sounds for the September edition of the monthly ProAm boxing extravaganza two pugilists, Kelsie George and Shaheed Ali would strip off their shirts for the first time after completing productive amateur careers. George tackles Troy Lewis, while Ali opposes Skeete in a 4 rounds bantamweight contest. Ali is anxious to start his career on a positive note and promised to do so in fine style.
Carlton Skeete
Yesterday afternoon, both pugilists honed their skills at the Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym (HEBG), Albouystown. Ali operated from 16:00hrs-17:30hrs while Skeete commenced sessions from 18:00hrs-1930hrs.
Skeete has already fought thrice as a professional boxer and conceded two decisions to Clive Atwell and former bantamweight champion, Dexter Marques. He feels that his seniority should stand him in good stead. “I’m looking for blood,” he stated when asked of the direction the decision would go. He also intimated that he has had a tough workload, sparring with top amateur pugilist Imran Khan for the past three weeks. “This will be an action packed fight and I urge my fans to come out early if they want to witness it,” declared Skeete.
Ali may be a tenderfoot in the professional arena but he has chalked up a decent career of 52 fights during a prolific amateur career. He won 36 of those bouts and lost sixteen. The tall southpaw scoffed at his opponent’s boasts and stated that when the smoke is cleared he would be the one to have his hands raised. “I intend to commence my professional career on a positive note,” he said. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, Ali said that his style will pose problems for Skeete and it will be he (Ali) that will be declared the winner when the final bell sounds.
Shaheed Ali successfully blocks a punch thrown by Mandessa Moses (right) during training sessions yesterday afternoon.
The Ali/Skeete matchup fight would be the first professional bout on the card while another debutant, Kelsie George will duke it out over 4 rounds with Troy Hill. Barbadian Miguel Antoine would oppose Jermaine King while Simeon Hardy goes after Winston Pompey in the main attraction over 6 rounds.
The ProAm boxing affair is an initiative of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the National Communications Network (NCN). The action gets underway at 20:00 and admission is $1,000 for adults with children being asked to pay half that amount.
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