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Changed travel itinerary forces Mullings/Atwell early CABOFE showdown
By Michael Benjamin
Seasoned boxing buffs will remember that fateful Boxing Night in 1985 when local light/heavyweight
Clive Atwell
pugilist, Charles Crawford faced Curaçao national, ‘Easy Boy’ Michael, in the then National Sports Hall, for a scheduled 10 rounds light/heavyweight encounter.
The two pugilists were already at the venue when information reached ‘Easy Boy Michael’s camp that his flight, initially scheduled for early the following morning, was brought forward by some four hours. The news forced the organizers to pull the fight forward to accommodate ‘Easy Boy’ Michael’s new travel arrangements. The Curaçao national, cognizant of the limited time he had to do his job, unleashed a vicious two fisted attack on Crawford and in just 1:40secs of the fight, forced referee, Wilfred Boodhoo, to call a halt to the proceedings after instituting two mandatory eight counts.
The decision had hardly been announced when ‘Easy Boy’ Michael scaled the ropes in grand gladiator style and without even bothering to strip of his gears, headed for the airport. The joke making its rounds then was that ‘Easy Boy’ had limited time to do his job and he ‘easily’ disposed of his opponent.
Now, several months short of fifteen years later, history seem to be repeating itself, at least in the change of fight plans for a foreign boxer; 2014 Contender champion, Jamaican, Sakima Mullings, is scheduled to face off with local world rated fighter, Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell for the World Boxing Council Caribbean Boxing Federation (WBCCABOFE) jnr/welterweight title tomorrow evening.
The organizers were recently informed that the Jamaican will now be required to check
Sakima Mullings
in at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 12:00hrs of fight night to board his plane back to Jamaica.
This has forced them to pull forward the Mullings/Atwell fight to the third bout on the programme and boxing buffs are advised to be at the venue early to be a part of the action. One is tempted to wonder aloud whether history is repeating itself or whether Atwell will be able to circumvent the famous ‘Charles Crawford tragedy.’
Meanwhile, Mullins was expected in Guyana last night and will join Atwell and other boxers on the card at the pre-fight press conference slated for the Conference Room at the Banks DIH Thirst Park at 10:00hrs this morning. Later this evening, the boxers will be at the Garnett and Sheriff Street business place of GBBC official, Michael Fung, for the weigh in ceremony before returning to their respective homes to relax while waiting for the big occasion tomorrow night.
Other fights include middleweight WBCCABOFE champion, Edmond DeClou up against local super/middleweight champion, Dereck Richmond, while Quincy Gomes opposes debutant, Keeve Allicock in a lightweight 4 rounder. Mark Austin will then attempt to avenge an earlier loss against Dexter Gonsalves, in a jnr/welterweight non-title 8 rounds affair moments before Barbados based Guyanese, Charwyn Eswick and debutant, Travis Fraser face off in a 4 rounds jnr/middleweight bout.
Questions abound; will history repeat itself or can Atwell defeat that jinx? Fans will be best advised to purchase their tickets early if only to catch the Mullins/Atwell shindig before the former boxer leaves for the airport. Judging from Atwell’s mood and his stern warning to the Jamaican to come prepared for the fight of his life, Mullings, in his haste to board the plane on time, might very well miss his flight— to attend to medical concerns. Only time will tell!
Admission is $3000 for a ringside seat and half that amount for the stand. Several corporate entities have rendered financial and other support towards the success of the card including Giftland Office Max, Guyana Tourism Board, GTM, Guyoil, Digicel, Fly Jamaica Airline, Castrol and Courts (Guyana) Ltd among others.
Action time is 20:00hrs sharp.
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