Minister Norton reiterates gov’t support for sport
Minister with Responsibility for Sport Dr. George Norton yesterday reiterated his support for boxing and sport in general during a courtesy call by the top brass of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) and some of the combatants on the ‘Bad Blood’ card scheduled for Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).
During the event at the Ministry of Social Cohesion on Main Street which was cordial and jovial, Dr. Norton joked that his name is a hybrid of former world heavyweight champions, George Foreman and Ken Norton.
He pointed out that the government will continue to work assiduously with the amateur and professional bodies since he is “impressed and convinced that more Olympic medals and world titles will be had from boxers.”
He also encouraged corporate Guyana to flex their muscles behind the ‘Sweet Science’.
Meanwhile, in the presence of national flyweight, bantamweight and lightweight champions, Dexter ‘De Kid’ Marques, Elton ‘The Bully’ Dharry and Dexter ‘Cobra’ Gonsalves, president of the GBBC, Peter Abdool stated that the “support for boxing though this ministry has been excellent.”
Abdool said that he was happy that professional boxing was returning to the ornate splendor of the CASH following an almost two-year absence. He concluded by encouraging fans to support the six-fight event. The knockout night of boxing will be headlined by the flashy Marques.
The showman flyweight, who has not fought since last April, will look to shake off some ring rust since his promotional team has already lined up a Commonwealth title fight in March with their sights set on a world title crack later in the year.
Marques will match gloves with Venezuelan, Dionis ‘El Flaco’ Martinez Arias in a 10-round affair.
Elsewhere on the bill, Shawn Corbin boxes highly ranked Trinidadian, Sheldon Lawrence for the WBC Fecarbox light heavyweight title in the main supporting bout.
Gonsalves takes on Arias’ countryman, Felipe Barcelo in a 10-round contest.
Dharry is advertised to match gloves with Jesus Garcia also of neighbouring Venezuela in an eightround affair while Anson Green will take on Barbadian, Keithland King. The night’s action is set to start at 20:00hrs with debutant, James Moore fighting another Barbadian, Anderson Emmanuel over four rounds in the heavyweight division.
Tickets cost $1000 for stands, $2000 for ringside and $4000 for VIP