‘Frog’ Holmes bitterly disappointed after visa issue scuttles Canada bout
JAMAICAN BOXER Richard ‘Frog’ Holmes is bitterly disappointed after missing his welterweight contest against Josh Wagner at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Canada, on Saturday because of visa delays.
Holmes had trained relentlessly over the last two months and had high hopes having a triumphant return to the sport he loves. The Jamaican boxer had been missing from the sport over the past two years on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, up until last Thursday, the deadline for his departure, his handlers had not received word from the Canadian High Commission on the status of his visa application.
“Basically the visa was the problem. They didn’t grant me the visa on time. That was the major issue.
“I was set to go up from two weeks before the fight. I thought the process was going well and things were in place, so I don’t know where it went wrong,” Holmes told The Gleaner.
“I was really looking forward to it and a lot of overseas fans, who were planning to be there were also disappointed.
“I am really sorry for the disappointment because the fans sat up waiting to see the fight live. I had two days before the fight to leave. But on Thursday, the deadline, I just gave up.
“Everything was just frustrating that day, and I got aggravated more and more as the time drew closer, because knowing I did so much work and it was not going to pay off, really got me stressed.
“I was in very good shape. I was ready and I am just sorry I didn’t get to participate, ”said Holmes.
Although still unclear, why his visa did not make it through, he revealed there will be another opportunity in a few months and he intends to be personally involved in the visa-application process to ensure there are no loose ends.
“I wasn’t given an official reason. I wasn’t really dealing with the whole thing. Somebody took care of that for me, so I really don’t know what took place.
“There will be another opportunity right around the corner. Sometime in July or September. I will be looking towards another fight overseas but the date has not been finalised.
“I am certain it will happen and next time around, hopefully, things work out the way it is supposed to.
“But I will be taking care of things personally next time around and I hope to be there (in Canada) to put on a show, ”he said.
Holmes has a record of 19 wins and five losses. He was the Wray & Nephew Contender finalist in 2018 but lost to Canadian Ricardo Salas.