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Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) card… They’ve talked the talk now the time approaches to walk the walk
By Michael Benjamin
As the uninitiated nears the corner of Belair and James Street Albouystown, he/she is greeted with loud grunts punctuated with thudding sounds. Closer examination reveals that the boxers preparing for the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) card at the Giftland Office Max, Lilliendaal, ECD on September 26 are merely winding down and putting the finishing touches to their preparations.
Of all the boxers training at that institution, Dexter Gonsalves stands out and just one look at his chiseled physique suggests that he is ready to throw down the gauntlet. He is slated to match gloves with Trinidad based Iwan Azore in a 12 rounder for Azore’s welterweight crown.
Gonsalves is an unassuming fellow and one can casually dismiss him as inconsequential, that is, until they are fed information of his boxing conquests. This is the man that fought against the odds and put Revlon Lake to sleep with a crunching left hook that could have crippled an ox. The fans had left the venue awestruck since such awesome power could not be attributed to such a skinny, frail body as Gonsalves.
That fight ensured that Gonsalves remained on the shelf for quite a while since opponents were reluctant to take him on. Eventually, Mark Austin gathered the requisite courage and stepped up to the plate. He managed to last the duration of the fight but was much the worst for wear. A little after the final bell had sounded, and when his skin had cooled, Austin cried foul and demanded a return.
The promoters jumped on the offer and a second fight was arranged. Not the garrulous boxer, Gonsalves simply promised to teach his man a lesson. He never got the opportunity to do so since Austin inexplicably fell ill moments before he was required to climb into the ring and the fight was aborted. The talk then was that Austin remembered fight one and experienced cold feet for fight two. Since then Gonsalves has been experiencing great difficulties in securing an opponent.
Azore has finally stepped up to the plate and has intensified training in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago. He is defending his title, won after hard battles and will not be anxious to give it up easily.
Azore is the rough and tumble type, while Gonsalves is a classical boxer who can also hold his own in a toe to toe brawl. Meanwhile, Azore’s last defence of his title occurred in November 2012 when he defeated Mark Austin on points. Both fighters have defeated Austin and will want to establish dominance over each other in order to claim the tab as the best welterweight in Guyana. The contrasting styles are bound to create the kind of slugfest fans have yearned for and they will not want to miss this one.
The main supporting bout matches Quincy Gomes with Anson Greene in a 6 rounds welterweight affair. Gomes has had a bright start to his career before suffering a lopsided loss to Frenchman Arnold Martinez when they clashed in Cayenne French Guiana earlier this year. Known for his bustling no nonsense style, Gomes also suffered a loss to Jamaican, Sakima Mullings in the just concluded Contender Series in Jamaica but it must be noted that the Guyanese pugilist accepted that fight as a substitute in less than one month yet turned in a courageous performance that almost created an upset.
Conversely, Green had etched his name among the big boys when he registered a scintillating knockout victory over super/middleweight champion, Derek Richmond. He then lost out to Gladwyn Dorway but rebounded to defeat David Thomas. Greene has lost 3 of his 5 fights but he packs a mean punch and seems ready to face up to his adversary. Therefore, Gomes would be best advised to come prepared for a tough encounter.
National amateur bantamweight champion, Imran Khan, will also be on show and will strip off his vest in his debut fight against David Thomas over 4 rounds in the lightweight category. Khan has done quite a lot of yapping and recently, at the signing ceremony, had boldly confronted his man with vile threats and vicious promises. He is a mere debutant and fans will assess his ability on fight night and not necessarily through his theatrics. The night’s opener will see Keeve Allicock battling with Stephon Gouveia in a featherweight fight over 4 rounds and these two have also done quite a lot of talking. Amidst all the speculations one thing is certain, the time for action draweth near and certainly the talkers will be separated from the punchers.
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