The Star (Jamaica)

Fabian Tucker opponent changed for Contender

- LEROY BROWN STAR Writer

When Jamaica’s Fabian Tucker steps into the ring on Wednesday at the Chinese Benevolent Associatio­n auditorium for his Wray and Nephew Contender preliminar­y bout, he will have a new opponent. Tucker was slated to fight Jeff Tabrizi, who was the No. 3 seeded boxer on the roster of the Canadians taking part in the series. The promoters announced yesterday, however, that Tabrizi was injured while doing his final preparatio­ns for the fight, and has been passed medically unfit to participat­e next week.

His place has been taken by Marco Szalai, a boxer who has a record of four wins and a loss. He made his debut as a profession­al on October 25, 2014, and lost his first fight by a secondroun­d technical knockout to Larone Whyte, in a bout scheduled for four rounds. Since then, however, he has had four fights and won them all, three inside the distance. He last fought in December.

Tucker made his debut on March 23, 2017 against Kestna Davis and dropped a six- round decision. Since then, he lost to Nico Yeyo and drew with Donovan Campbell for a 0-2-1 record. Wednesday’s contest will be the last in the preliminar­y round of the competitio­n, which Jamaica lead 4-3. Following Wednesday’s contest, the eight remaining boxers will move into the quarter finals.

The boxers are fighting for the 2018 Contender title and purse money of $2 million for first place, $500,000 for second, $250,000 for third, and $200,000 for fourth.

 ?? GLADSTONE TAYLOR ?? Fabian Tucker (right) in a sparring session with Rowan Stewart at the Sugar Olympic Gym last year.
GLADSTONE TAYLOR Fabian Tucker (right) in a sparring session with Rowan Stewart at the Sugar Olympic Gym last year.

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