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Dharry vows to deliver IBO World Title to Guyana
…Salmin Kassim promises knockout
By Rawle Toney
Kaieteur Sports – February 15, 2026, is shaping up to be a red-letter day for Guyana and a potential landmark moment in the nation’s boxing history, at least if Elton “The Bully” Dharry has his way.
The veteran Guyanese pugilist will step into the ring at the Pegasus Hotel to contest the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Super Bantamweight World Title, carrying not only his own ambitions, but the hopes of a boxing-loving nation eager to witness a homegrown world champion crowned on local soil.
Standing between Dharry and history is a confident, flamboyant and ambitious 22-year-old Salmin Kassim of Tanzania, a rising African prospect who has made no secret of his intention to leave Guyana with the world title firmly in his possession.
Organisers of the IBO Super Bantamweight title fight between Guyana’s Elton Dharry and Salim Kassim at a Press Conference at the Pegasus Hotel on Friday.
At a press conference hosted yesterday at the Pegasus Hotel and Suites, both fighters, joining virtually from their respective training bases, expressed confidence, patriotism and belief that February 15 will belong to them.
Each pledged to dedicate the IBO belt to their country, setting the tone for a compelling clash between experience and youth, and a battle between Guyana and Tanzania.
For Dharry, now 40, the bout represents a second opportunity at world championship glory. His first came against Australian Andrew Moloney for the WBA Super Flyweight World Title, a fight that ended in controversial fashion and remains a recurring talking point whenever his career is discussed.
This time around, Dharry will be competing five to seven pounds above his customary weight class, a challenge he has embraced without hesitation.
FLASHBACK! Elton Dharry (right) in action against Dexter Marques where he won the WBA Super flyweight gold title.
The title shot comes amid a resurgence for the Guyanese boxer. Earlier this year, Dharry earned a convincing unanimous decision victory over Roger Saldana at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, a performance that reinforced his form and confidence.
He enters the IBO showdown riding a six-fight winning streak, during which he captured the WBC International Super Flyweight title and the WBA Super Flyweight Gold belt.
“I’m always working hard,” Dharry said from New York, where he was training in the gym at the time of the press conference. “This is about preparation, discipline and belief. I want to bring this title home to Guyana.”
Dharry brings into the contest a battle-tested résumé, boasting a professional record of 30 wins, 17 by knockout, against six losses.
While he concedes an 18-year age gap to his opponent, the Guyanese fighter is unfazed, pointing instead to experience, ring intelligence and resilience forged over nearly two decades in the professional ranks.
Kassim, meanwhile, is viewed as one of Africa’s most promising young boxers. Unbeaten in 12 professional outings, he owns a record of 10 wins and two draws and arrives in Guyana full of confidence following a second-round knockout victory on December 10 in Tanzania.
Speaking through an interpreter, the Tanzanian made his intentions clear.
“I respect my opponent, but I will win by knockout,” Kassim declared, stopping short of predicting the round.
Asked about facing the most experienced opponent of his career, Kassim acknowledged Dharry’s achievements, but insisted that the moment belongs to him.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Peter Abdool, described the night as a historic one for the sport locally.
He noted that Dharry will become the first male Guyanese boxer to contest a world title on home soil, while the event also marks the first IBO-sanctioned card ever staged in Guyana.
Abdool extended gratitude to the IBO for bringing the championship fight to Guyana, emphasizing the importance of such opportunities in inspiring the next generation of local boxers.
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