Guyana Boxing Board of Control ‘Hostile Territory’

Feb 03, 2016 Sports

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Dharry tackles Panamanian, Israel Hidrogo; Marques opposes Venezuelan, Freddy Baleno

By Michael Benjamin
International Boxing Federation (IBF) Inter-Continental Bantamweight champion, Elton

‘The Bully’ Dharry, will have his hands full when he matches gloves with top Panamanian boxer, Israel Hidrogo, in a 10 rounds bantamweight duel when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) stages a card dubbed ‘Hostile Territory’ at the Giftland Office Max Mall, Liliendaal ECD February 20.
Dharry has already opened camp in Brooklyn, New York, and oozes confidence of clinching the bout. He has compiled a decent 19-5-1 record with 5 of his opponents failing to reach the final round.
Dharry’s last loss seems a distant memory when on September 11, 2009 he squared off with Isander Beauchamp at the Memorial Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA and lost on all three judges’ scorecard (36-40, 37-39, 37-39). This was the 5th loss suffered by Dharry but he remained undaunted and went on to win his next fight, against his countryman, Wilmut Hutson, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall 6 months later.
Since then, the slimly built bantamweight has chalked up 15 victories on the trot. His most recent bout was against Miguel Robles in June last year at the Amazura Concert Hall, Queens, New York where Dharry continued his winning ways with a 3rd round stoppage of the scheduled 8 rounds duel.
Now, eight months later, Dharry is set to continue his winning ways when he squares off with Panamanian, Hidrogo.
Dharry sports a sound resume and in what could be considered his best performance of his pro career, he scored an upset victory over the favored Jose Rivera by decision at in New York City in 2010. His other accomplishments include IBF Inter-Continental Bantamweight champion (2014), while he registered sixteen consecutive wins in 2015.
Dharry is by no means a strong puncher yet he has managed to chalk up a 48% knockout ratio. He won the IBF Inter-Continental bantamweight title in December 2014 after defeating Jose Rios, a title he still holds.

Hidrogo stripped off his shirt in July 2010 with a win over his countryman, Johnatan Espinoza but seven months later, he suffered his first loss to Anastacio Zurdo after the referee stopped the bout in the 3rd round. Like Dharry, Hidrogo bounced back with three victories before his second demise, a 4th round stoppage to another of his countrymen, Leroy Estrada.  His attempt at the WBA Fedebol super flyweight title was thwarted when he was stopped in the 5th round against Jonathan Arias in August last year.
To date, the Panamanian has 19 bouts and won 10 of them, two by the knockout route, while losing 7 times and drawing once. He has an unflattering 11% knockout ratio and is on the redemption trail after surrendering his last bout to Arias.
Meanwhile, the organizers said that Dharry’s bout will serve as a warm up for a fight against a British fighter for the British Commonwealth title scheduled for Guyana on May 21.
Local junior/welterweight champion, Dexter Gonsalves, who was to have fought Brazilian, Jonivan Barreto, in a 10 rounds junior/welterweight fight, has recently pulled out of his bout. Notwithstanding, the organizers have finalized the card and former local bantamweight champion, Dexter Marques will now tackle Venezuelan, Freddy Baleno in a 10 rounds flyweight fight. The Venezuelan sports a 26-10-0 record with a 42% knockout ratio. He last fought in November last year and lost to his countryman, Alexis Diaz.
Marques won the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) flyweight title after defeating Jamaican, Rudolph Hedge, in April 2014. He has not fought since after several planned fights were aborted for varying reasons. Obviously, he will have to shake off some ring rust if he is to defeat the Venezuelan. With a 14-2-0 record Marques has a decent 31% knockout ratio, but is a highly skilled fighter. His last defeat was to Dharry in May 2011 but he has rebounded with six victories.
In other preliminary bouts, Barbados based Guyanese pugilist, Revlon Lake, will also get an opportunity to avenge an earlier loss to Barbadian, Miguel Antoine when they clash over 10 rounds in the welterweight division. Antoine has defeated most of his Guyanese opponents with only Jermaine King putting up some opposition to secure a draw. Notwithstanding, the pundits felt that King was ‘done in.’
Mandessa Moses will return after a lengthy hiatus to square off with Ansilla Norville in a 4 rounds bantamweight fight moments before Imran Khan squares off with Quincy Gomes in a 6 rounds lightweight duel.
The boxers will convene at Abdools and Abdools Insurance Brokers, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, for the signing of contracts tomorrow afternoon at 14:00hrs.
Admission is $5,000 for a ringside seat, while general seating costs $3,000.

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