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Nankumar Singh/Kellon King lightweight encounter should produce ‘heavy’ action
GBBC/Giftland OfficeMax ‘Next Generation’ Extravaganza…
Amateur cards of the eighties have been characterized by grueling contests that encouraged pundits to attend cards of that era. The raging battles between members of the Republican Boxing Gym and their counterparts from the Guyana Defense Force, the Guyana Police Force and other top gyms have been nostalgic and fans craved for a return of those days.
Imran Khan (left) punishes Nankumar Singh when the two met some time ago.
Well, efforts to have those battles regurgitated became evident when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) implemented the ProAm cards where the nation’s best amateur boxers constituted a part of that card.
Indeed, some raging battles were witnessed out of that initiative and the boxing administrators have promised a replication when 8 boxers don gloves in four potentially action packed encounters when the GBBC joins with the Guyana Boxing Association and Giftland Office Max to stage the ‘Next Generation’ boxing extravaganza at the Giftland Mall, Lilliendaal, ECD this Saturday, September 26.
Amateur cards do not have main bouts but if one were to move away from conventional practices, then the Nankumar Singh/Kellon King lightweight match would fit this bill. This fight has all the ingredients for a slugfest when one examines the contrasting styles of these two pugilists.
Republican boxers have always been characterized by their aggression, punching from gong to gong. Singh will be representing this gym and he will be strapped with a huge responsibility of preserving this culture. The good news is that he has proven to have the ability and pundits will remember his performances in past ProAm cards that distinguished him from his contemporaries.
His opponent King, fights out of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) and is a hard worker. He has been tested and shown vast improvement over the months when he first ventured into the FYF to hone his skills.
His sternest test occurred when he faced off with Burt Braithwaite, a bout many opined was out of his league, and he paid the price with an ignominious loss. Notwithstanding, King has potential and his resurgence after the Braithwaite loss speaks a lot for his character and determination.
The Singh encounter should be testing but after his loss to Braithwaite and standing his ground to opponents of similar ilk, one suspect that King will be more prepared for Saturday’s encounter. A fierce battle is therefore envisaged and it would be interesting to see how this one fleshes out.
Three other fights comprise the cards and fans could expect the usual fireworks. Harpy Eagles representative, Travis Hubbard, fresh from his victory over Quincy Boyce (GDF) in the just concluded Intermediate Boxing Championships, would fancy his chances over Orin Bancroft who had surrendered a close decision to Boyce, also in the intermediate championships.
The two will face off in the lightweight (youth) class and a win by Bancroft will boost his morale and compensate for the recent loss to Boyce.
In the other two amateur contests, Glenroy Smith (EBG) will match gloves with Republican, Clifton Graham in a welterweight bout while Tefon Green (GDF) and Dexter Wray (REP) will square off in a Elite Flyweight contest.
Consequently, the big boys will take to the spotlight in the professional category that culminates with the welterweight title fight between defending champion, Iwan Azore and Dexter Gonsalves.
The other professional fights will see Quincy Gomes matching gloves with Anson Greene in a 6 rounds welterweight affair, national amateur bantamweight champion, Imran Khan in his debut fight against David Thomas over 4 rounds in the lightweight category and Keeve Allicock battling with Stephon Gouveia in a featherweight fight over 4 rounds. (Michael Benjamin)
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