WBC female Super/flyweight championship saga ...Alfred may yet receive a lease on life

WBC female Super/flyweight championship saga …Alfred may yet receive a lease on life

Nov 28, 2012 Sports

By Michael Benjamin
Had destiny not intervened, Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred would have been the new World Boxing Council (WBC) female Super/flyweight champion after engaging Mexican, Zulina Muñoz at Foro Polanco, Mexico City, Mexico Saturday night last. However, fate stepped in and Alfred’s bout was cancelled after medical practitioners, performing checks hours before the bout, discovered that she was more than two weeks pregnant.

Peter Abdool (3rd left) joins Alfred (4th left) and her coaches Murray and Blake (2nd & 3rd left) at the press conference. Also in photo is DeSouza, Cox and Jardine (left & 2nd left and extreme right), respectively.

Alfred will now have to shelve all boxing activity, maybe for the next year, and is uncertain of retaining her #8 rating by the WBC. However, despite the grim prognosis, the ‘Mystery Lady’ may still receive a lease on life when President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Peter Abdool, attends the World Boxing Council (WBC) conference, scheduled for next week in Cancun, Mexico, where he will discuss the issue and hope for a favourable resolution.
According to reports, the ‘Mystery Lady’ was totally mystified upon learning of her predicament and drowned her frustration in tears. Yesterday afternoon, a more composed Alfred hosted a press conference in the offices of Abdool and Abdool Insurance Brokers, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, where she bared her soul even as she apologized to her many fans and sponsors for the unfortunate turn of events. The ‘Mystery Lady’ was joined by President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, referee, Eion Jardine, judge Clairmonte DeSouza and her two coaches, Sebert Blake and Joseph Murray.
“I know that many people are disappointed with what happened and I wish to apologize, especially to my main sponsors Courts (Guyana Ltd) but these things happen,” a penitent Alfred said.
She said that she was totally unaware that she was pregnant and only learnt of her condition after undergoing a stringent medical examination as a prerequisite to the bout. “Had I been aware of my condition before my departure I would not have wasted my time travelling to the fight venue,” declared Alfred.
She highlighted the tough workouts that she had endured while preparing for the bout and said that she was good and ready to clinch her second world title. Instead the promoters were forced to substitute another Mexican, Maribel Ramirez; Muñoz prevailed to take her record to 36 wins and 1 loss; still to register a knockout victory.
“I looked at that bout and deep down in my heart I knew that I would have defeated Muñoz,” declared Alfred. Quizzed on her future plans Alfred said, “It is merely two days since I have returned to Guyana and my team has been unable to discuss the situation but we will get around to that soon.”
She said that her training schedule leading up to the bout was rigid and that she had diligently applied herself to her work. “I was really serious and trained thrice daily,” she said. Alfred had also engaged in special training sessions to counteract the high altitude terrain of Mexico.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdool also admitted to being disappointed by the turn of events. He said that his executive had worked hard to make the fight a possibility and he was confident that Alfred would have won the title. The GBBC President said that he believed Alfred when she said that she was unaware of her condition. “It made absolutely no sense for Alfred to mislead us because she would have had to get past the Mexican physicians,” Abdool said.
The GBBC boss further said that Alfred was not subjected to medical tests before departing Guyana as he was aware that she would have been examined in Mexico. Further, he disclosed that such an examination would have been costly. “We pick up the tab for medical examinations done locally but I am not certain who should pay for tests for boxers fighting in other territories,” said Mr. Abdool.
“All agreements pertaining to the fight is between the promoter and the boxer; we cannot compel Alfred to conform to medical checks,” Abdool further related. He also alluded to the legal implications of such directives that would preclude his executives from taking a hard line position. He was asked if local Board officials had mandated that Alfred undergo medical tests locally before travelling to the fight venue. He admitted that this was not done but pointed out that even if Alfred had been subjected to such she would have had to satisfy the criteria in Mexico. Notwithstanding, he said that his executive have taken note and will now initiate discussions on possible counteracting strategies.
That apart, Alfred’s coaches said that her reputation had preceded her and she had created a stir in Mexico. The coaches also said that despite the disappointment experienced by Alfred’s inability to keep her ring date, the promoters extended benevolence and paid her a part of her purse. Discussing Alfred’s future, Joseph Murray said that President of the WBC, Jose Sulaiman, has indicated that Alfred will retain her rating (#8 in the super/flyweight division) until her issue is sorted out.
Alfred’s career suffered a major setback after doctors performing medical checks hours before her world title bout against Mexican, Zulina Muñoz, discovered that she was more than 4 weeks pregnant and called off the contest. She now awaits the final verdict when Mr. Abdool returns to Guyana.