28th Edition of Guyana Fight Night…Gonsalves in top form as boxers round the final bend

Jun 27, 2013 Sports

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By Michael Benjamin

At first it sounded as though someone was being tortured as grunts and groans permeated the air. These ominous sounds preceded savage combinations and the uninitiated would have been tempted to call in the cops for an investigation. Closer examination, however, unearthed the true picture; Dexter Gonsalves was merely fine tuning his preparations at the Forgotten Youth Foundation Boxing Gym for his 12 rounds clash with former lightweight king, Revlon Lake, for the local jnr/lightweight title at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, on  Saturday June 29 next.
The lanky pugilist pounded away on the heavy bag, under the tutelage of his trainer, Sebert Blake and from all indications he means business.
While Gonsalves has never fought in the local ring since stripping off his shirt, his reputation has preceded him; he has a victory over Prince Lee Isidore, no stranger to local boxing buffs. He also defeated Trinidadians, Muhammad Dawes, Leon Dover and Craig Storm, whom he knocked out in round 3, among other notable pugilists, before conceding a point decision to Michel Agard in a 4 rounder at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Mucurapo, Trinidad and Tobago.
Monday afternoon, he demonstrated some of the savagery that has stood him in good stead and earned him a victory over Isidore, a boxer that forced multiple champion Clive Atwell to dig deep for 10 rounds before he was able to clinch a victory.  Lake was scheduled to arrive in Guyana from his Barbados base yesterday.
Many will remember him from that crunching left hook that felled Mark Austin for the full count. Lake also had epic bouts against Barbadian Miguel Antoine and could be regarded as the more experienced. Whether this will be the decisive factor or whether Gonsalves determination and venom, displayed Monday afternoon, proves superior will only be known when these two gladiators square off on the West Coast on Saturday evening next.
Troy Lewis and Laured Stewart were also hard at work at the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) Boxing gym; both boxers were engaged in several hectic rounds on the strike pads under the guidance of Blake and veteran boxer/trainer, Ray Jones. This activity improves on the boxer’s timings and accuracy and both boxers were on cue as they lashed out at the instrument.
Lewis takes on Kelsey George in a 4 rounds middleweight encounter and George has been given a fillip for winning; he is guaranteed a fight next month against former WBA welterweight champion, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis. Troy Lewis has spoiled many a young boxer’s dreams and judging from the intense applications to his training, his thoughts may just be focused on disturbing George’s plans.
Stewart, will make his professional debut against Anson Green, also over 4 rounds and though the former boxer was an exceptional amateur pugilist, fans cannot be certain that he will take his skill over to the professional arena. Green is trained by George ‘Canchi’ Oprecht and to date, has fought three professional bouts losing once to Gladwin Dorway, while defeating David Thomas and Richmond who he stopped in 4 rounds. Richmond, many will remember, had battled Syrian Mahmood ‘The Dentist’ Loul to an exciting draw. Green is confident and said that he will win by dint of being the more experienced. “I have been training for three months and cannot imagine myself losing this fight to Stewart,” pronounced Green.
Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore will also make a grand return to the local ring with a bout  against veteran boxer, Errol Trotman. Moore is still to arrive from the USA where he had prepared at the Gleason’s Gym, but Trotman is working out at the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym and Monday afternoon, just after completing a 2 hours session, he said that he is ready to throw down the gauntlet on Moore. “I have a few surprises,” was all Trotman cared to venture when asked for a prediction.
Otherwise, Eversley Brown tackles debutant, Romeo Norville in a 4 rounds scrap and while Brown is the more experienced, Norville is no slouch and has been quite a force in the amateur arena. On paper, it appears as though Norville might have bitten off too big a chunk for his debut but when one closely examines his illustrious amateur career, doubts pervade.
The rainy season is on but fans need not worry as administrators have said that they are prepared for such eventualities and the ring would be set up under a large tent with similar facilities for patrons. An admission fee of $1,500 will be charged for any part of the ground while musical entertainment will be provided by Slingerz Sound System.

 

 

 

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