World title fights on the horizon
—Former world champion Gairy `Superman’ St Clair is plotting to bring two world title fights to Guyana
If things go as planned this country could have not one but two world title fights in the not too distant future. According to information reaching Stabroek Sport, former world boxing champion Gairy `Superman’ St Clair is looking to stage two world title fights here.
“Gairy St Clair, the former world boxing champion and household name of the 90’s is looking to stage two world title fights possibly at the Guyana National Stadium or any other suitable venue,” a source close to the fighter told this newspaper recently.
“The boxers St Clair has in mind are Elton Dharry and Dexter `De Kid’ Marques,” the source added.
Stabroek Sport reached out to the Australia-based St Clair for a comment but calls to his cell phone went unanswered.
Dharry, who is based in the USA, is the current holder of the World Boxing Council FECARBOX super flyweight title.
Dharry lost in controversial fashion to Andrew Moloney in a battle for the Interim World Boxing Association super flyweight title in November of 2019.
Apart from the FECARBOX title, Dharry holds a slew of titles including the national bantamweight title, the WBC Caribbean bantamweight title, the IBF Intercontinental title and the WBU Americas bantamweight title.
According to the source Dharry could easily become Guyana’s next world champion, adding that St Clair is well poised to deliver that title fight for Guyanese boxing fans once the COVID-19 virus is in the rear view mirror.
“St Clair is well poised to deliver a world title fight for Dharry which could easily be the biggest fight in the history of professional boxing in this country,” the source said.
“As a former world boxing champion and now a famous boxing trainer in Australia, he has all the right connections to deliver,” the source added.
Dharry has in the past described his defeat to Moloney as the biggest disappointment of his career and the source feels that the motivation of a world title shot might just be the shot in the arm the USA-based Guyanese needs to rise to the occasion and give Guyanese boxing fans its next world title. “My biggest disappointment was having the world title stolen from me,” Dharry was quoted as saying in another section of the media.
Flyweight Marques, who has a career of 19 fights, 17 wins with two losses, has not fought since January 2018 when he pounded out a unanimous decision over Dionis Martinez at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall
His only two losses (both knockouts) came against quality fighters in Dharry and Leon `Hurry Up’ Moore and he has defeated seasoned campaigners such as Orlan Rogers, Carlton Skeete and Paul Lewis.
He was the headline fighter at the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s `Not in My House’ card against Colombian Jose Antonio Jiminez but the fight did not come off and he has not fought since.
St Clair, who won the IBF and IBO junior lightweight titles when he defeated five-time world champion Cassius Baloyi in 2006 at the Emperors’ Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa, has become a shrewd trainer according to reports after retiring from the sport with a record of 45 fights, 12 losses and two draws.
He, like Dharry, is confident that Guyanese boxers can once again climb the pinnacle of the sport, said the source.
“Yes, Guyanese fighters can fight for a world title. I believe if they fight at a high level and they have experienced trainers to help them get there. I believe Peter Abdul (President of the GBBC) is in a good position to make that happen,” Dharry told the Kaieteur News following his defeat to Moloney.
Maybe the time is ripe for Guyana to have another World boxing champion.
Tuesday’s WeCare/Grill Master Republic softball competition has received support from the Berbice branch of the popular Trophy Stall Organisation.
Last Thursday Trophy Stall came on board by donating a trophy for the competition which gets underway on Republic Day in Berbice.
The donation was made by Aleena Asgarally to Grill Masters Roy Jafferally.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic softball in Berbice has been expectedly dormant and next week’s competition will give softball players in the Ancient County a chance to get back into action.
The competition, a collaborative effort between WeCare Community Services and the Grill Master Softball team, will commence from 9am on Tuesday at the Canje Welfare Ground.
The organisers say that the one-day competition will be played on a knock out basis under strict COVID-19 measures.
Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded to the top teams and individual performers.
Among the sponsors are Modern Optical Service, GAICO Construction, Kay’s Pharmacy and Medical Services, Chateram Ramdihal Chartered Accountants, Professional Services Firm, and Grill Master Catering Service.
Five members of the national football team known as the Golden Jaguars have been provisionally suspended by the Guyana Football Federation, a release from the body stated yesterday.
Trayon Bobb, Kelsey Benjamin, Nicholas McArthur, Kevin Dundas and Sese Norville were slapped with the suspension as a result of their alleged participation in an unsanctioned tournament in Buxton.
Several registered coaches and match officials have been provisionally suspended from all football activity with immediate effect pending investigation by the GFF, the release stated.
The matter is to be investigated by the GFF’s Disciplinary Committee.
“The individuals will be unable to participate in any international or club football until the resolution of Disciplinary Committee proceedings and could face further disciplinary action,” the release stated.
“They will be notified of the venue, date and time of their separate hearings in due course,” it added.
The match officials suspended are Dwayne Johnson, Deon Feasall and Roydon Ramsay while the coaches are Dwayne Jacobs, Philbert Moffatt, Sharon Abrams and Sherwin Neblett.
“This action, in line with the GFF’s constitutional mandate and responsible governance duties, has been taken following notification of an unsanctioned football event at the Buxton Community Ground,” the release stated.
“Further GFF investigations into the participation of other individuals are ongoing and may result in similar disciplinary action in due course.”
According to the release, the GFF Constitution, approved by FIFA, contains specific clauses related to unauthorised football activity aimed at defending the integrity of the game and protecting the safety and wellbeing of its members.
The GFF release stated that under current official COVID-19 restrictions designed to saves lives and protect communities; gatherings of more than 10 people have been banned.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, the only football event the GFF has sanctioned with approval from the
National COVID-19 Task Force has been the GFF “Bounce Back Classic”, which took place at the turn of the year behind closed doors without fans and under strict health protocols,” the release ended.
However, Mohammed combined with Bravo in a 112run, third wicket stand to erase any hopes Jagaurs entertained of a come-from-behind win.
Mohammed counted eight fours in a measured knock while the left-handed Bravo struck half-dozen fours and a six off 77 deliveries.
Bravo was one of two wickets to fell to left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie (2-36) in the space of 26 balls as Nicholas Pooran failed again with 18 to leave Red Force 155 for four in the 34th over but Mohammed and Denesh Ramdin (17 not out) steered Red Force home in a 34-run, unbroken fifth wicket stand.