Eastman vows to make Hardy pay for disrespecting him at press conference

Jun 01, 2012 Sports

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Friday Night Fights – 24th Edition…

When Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite fought Barbadian, Shawn ‘Sniper’ Cox he seemed to be doing fine with his threats and vile promises of what he would have done to his foe. Then ‘The Big Truck’ made the fundamental mistake of calling Cox garbage. The epithet enraged Cox who vowed to make the former Guyanese world champion pay for his crassness. The result of that bout is now history as Cox made good on his promise.

Yesterday, at the studios of the National Communications Networks (NCN) where the boxers had convened for the pre-fight press conference, Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy seemed to be saying all the right things in the run up to his light/middleweight bout against former European champion and world rater, Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman tonight.
Then he went a bit further by declaring that Eastman is an ‘old man’ who would have already enjoyed the better part of his career. Hardy then went on to say that he would use his famous ‘chin checkers’ to cart off the spoils.
The initial statement infuriated the ‘Battersea Bomber’ who blurted, “You have disrespected me and for that I will ensure that I regain some respect.” The battle lines are now drawn and both pugilists will be coming out swinging in order to claim the spoils in their scheduled 10 rounds light/middleweight encounter in the 24th edition of Friday Night Fights at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) tonight.
Kwesi Jones was initially scheduled to fight Shawn Corbin but the latter fighter developed problems while training for the fight, forcing the organizers to substitute the Eastman/Hardy bout. The general consensus seemed to suggest that Hardy has bitten off more than he could chew but the man of the ‘chin checker’ fame has scoffed at such sentiments saying that the bout is just what he needs as he prepares for battle in the imminent World Boxing Council (WBC) 50th anniversary celebrations tournament. He is urging his fans to come out and support him since he plans to turn in a special performance.
The Miguel Antoine/Iwan Azore welterweight bout has been called off after the former boxer sustained an injury while training. The organizers have since contracted Troy Lewis to fill the slot and Azore, who flew in from his Trinidad and Tobago base yesterday afternoon has promised to replicate the result of their second encounter where he had scored a lopsided unanimous verdict.
Both boxers have demonstrated deep hatred for each other’s guts in their first fight, to the extent that they became embroiled in an ‘after the bell’ brawl. Officials of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) had summoned them to a disciplinary hearing and then matched them again. Azore eventually prevailed.
Yesterday afternoon both fighters’s exuded confidence and Azore said that while he is disappointed by the turn of events that forced Antoine out of the fight, he is ready for whatever Lewis brings with him. Lewis also sounded confident saying that he will come out with blazing fists with every intention of reversing the decision.
Kelsie George did not travel from Berbice for the press conference and his opponent, James Walcott had a field day. He promised to mete out all manner of punishment to the Berbician. When informed of a missive dispatched to him by George, that he would teach him (Walcott) a lesson, the latter pugilist chuckled in derision while promising George the licking of his life.
Rudolph Fraser and Cassius Matthews also had choice comments for each other with the former boxer declaring that he has a foolproof plan to counteract anything the latter has to offer.
Otherwise, four amateur bouts will sweeten the deal for boxing buffs. Tournament organizer, Terence Poole explained that executives of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) are currently focusing on the development of talent in the rural areas. As such a large percentage of the boxers are drawn from gyms outside of the Capital city.
Competing boxers will be drawn from Berbice and Essequibo including Shaka Moore, from the Cinderella County up against Tyron Lashley of Rosehall Jammers. Michael April, fighting out of Tiger Eye Boxing Gym, Berbice, will battle Orin Bancroft while April’s gym mate, Travis Fraser opposes Damion Ross. Anthon Branch of the Harpy Eagles will do battle with Mathew Hollingsworth in the final amateur bout.
Fight Night Guyana was initiated by the Guyana Boxing Board of Control in collaboration with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association, National Communication s Network and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
The bouts will be taped by National Communications Network (NCN) for a later showing and as usual the admission fee remains at $1000 for adults and half that amount for children. Bell time is 20:00hrs sharp.

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