Latest update February 10th, 2025 7:48 AM
GBBC ‘Hostile Territory’Boxing extravaganza…Elton Dharry arrives for his ring date with Hidrogo; spews confidence of victory
By Michael Benjamin
International Boxing Federation (IBF) Inter-Continental Bantamweight champion, Elton ‘The Bully’ Dharry, landed in Guyana early yesterday morning to keep his ring date with Panamanian boxer, Israel Hidrogo in a 10 rounds bantamweight duel on a card dubbed ‘Hostile Territory’ at the Giftland Office Max Mall, Liliendaal ECD February 27.
Elton Dharry is all concentration as Lennox Blackmore takes him through his paces yesterday morning.
Shortly after arriving in the Capital City Dharry, who travelled with former world rated fighter and Commonwealth champion, Lennox Blackmore, opened camp at the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym, Independence Boulevard and engaged in a light session of shadow boxing and pads work, under the tutelage of Blackmore.
The recently crowned Inter-Continental Bantamweight champion is in top shape and said that he is confident of winning his bout. “I respect the fact that (Hidrogo) is a former world champion but I am up and coming and very hungry so I cannot let him step in my way,” Dharry stated matter-of-factly.
He said that he was first informed of a fight here in Guyana since early December last year and had been in training since then. He was, however, forced to endure several postponements after his previous opponents opted out of the bout. “When I was informed that Hidrogo had accepted the bout I was ecstatic and immediately intensified training in New York,” Dharry intimated.
This writer noted that Dharry is in ripping (physical) form and was told that this was due to the volume of work in New York under the guide of his head coach, Martin Gonsalves with support from Blackmore. He said that he has been viewing tapes of Hidrogo in action and is quite confident he could overcome the imminent hurdle.
Quizzed on whether he will engage in sparring sessions before the fight, Dharry answered in the negative saying that he had sparred extensively while in New York and will be concentrating on a lot of speed and coordination work for the final leg of his training sessions. He said that he had engaged in tough sparring sessions with Jose Gonsalves and Ariel Lopez, two tough Spanish fighters in Gleasons. Blackmore is also confident that his charge will do well. He said that Dharry is a hard worker and he has been working diligently for this fight even amidst the many disappointments.
Meanwhile, coach, Lennox Daniels was hard at work as he whipped his charges into shape. He is in charge of Mandessa Moses and Dexter Marques and both of these fighters also trained diligently yesterday morning. Daniels also worked with Clairmont Gibson and Nankumar Singh, two of the amateur boxers that will be on show. Singh engages Jason Phillips, while Gibson battles Diwani Lampkin in the amateur segment of the card.
Both boxers are sharp and ready for combat, evidenced by their diligent application on the strike pads. Fans will also get a chance to evaluate the form of Dennis Thomas and Desmond Amsterdam, the two boxers shortlisted for the Olympic Qualifiers in Argentina, next month. They will box in a three rounds exhibition bout to round off the amateur segment.
The other fights on the card include Imran ‘Magic’ Khan against Quincy Gomes in a 6 rounds lightweight duel, while Cassius Matthews battles Kishawn ‘Special K’ Simon in a 6 rounds welterweight return bout. Admission is $5,000 for a ringside seat while general seating costs $2,000.
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