From Isaiah Chappelle in New York (In association with Western Union Money Transfer Swiss House Cambio)
Guyana Chronicle
May 12, 2001

TONIGHT it is Raul Frank's turn for a world title, possibly giving Guyana the country's second world title, when he match gloves with Vernon Forrest a second time for the International Boxing Federation welterweight belt, this time at the mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden, New York.

Also, it will be history in the making in the main bout with Puerto Rican Felix "Tito" Trinidad and American William Joppy.

At yesterday's open-air weigh-in at Bryant Park, Frank tipped the scales at an even 147 pounds and Forrest 145 pounds .

World renown promoter Don King told Chronicle Sport: "It's gonna be a great fight. And Raul Frank is gonna be ready to make the people of Guyana proud."

Well known and veteran trainer Maurice "Bizzy' Boyce told Chronicle Sport that he is very confident that Frank will be Guyana's next World champion.

"I saw Forrest in gym and Forrest in action and I know he can take care of himself, but I am 100 percent for Frank," Bizzy Boyce said.

The long standing trainer said Frank will have to be aggressive, taking the fight to Forrest while keeping away from Forrest's right hand.

Frank and Forrest had a long, hard road to a world title with the Guyanese claiming that he was given the cold shoulder despite his ability until a Don King scout spotted him which eventually led to this showdown.

Forrest said he was held back because he was an independent boxer who set his own destiny.

But Frank's co-trainer Al Bonanni pointed out that some boxers are lucky to get early title shots in their careers.

"Then there are some, like Raul, who have to wait their turn," Bonanni said.

Once Guyana's youngest Olympic boxer, Frank has been a professional boxer for about 15 years, entering the professional ring shortly after winning a medal at the Pan American Games in 1986.

Frank moved to New York in 1995 and fights out of Brooklyn undefeated since then, now riding an 11-fight winning streak with a record of 23 wins, three losses and one draw. He is the reigning United States Boxing Association welterweight champion since October, 1997, when he beat the previously undefeated Purcell Miller.

The IBF number-one contender told Chronicle Sport he is ready for this second encounter with Forrest, the first ending with an accidental head butt in round three last August.

"Actually the fight didn't get started at that point. We were just feeling out each other. This fight Saturday night means much more. I am better prepared," Frank declared.

Forrest entered the professional ring in 1992 with a first-round knock-out and is undefeated in 31 outings, ending 25 fights with knock-outs. He wears the North American Boxing Federation welterweight belt since 1998 and is the IBF number-two contender.

"I want to be cautious of it (the head butt). That was my opportunity to be a world champion. It put my career back by some 15 months. But I will not make that distract me from doing what I am trying to do to win the world championship," Forrest said.

The American said he was confident he would have won because he was following the fight strategy to the "T" and he will stop Frank in the first half of the fight tonight.

"This time round, we gonna take care of business. I want this title more than anything," Forrest declared.

But the fight that the world will be looking out for is the clash between two-time World Boxing Association Middleweight champion, William Joppy, and challenger "Tito" Trinidad who is the WBA Super Welterweight champion and the IBF Junior Middleweight champion who is also a four-time world champion.

In the war of words in the pre-fight press conference, Joppy said he will beat Trinidad because the Puerto Rican was fighting "babies," while he was the middleweight champion since 1996.

Trinidad reminded Joppy that he has already lost while he, Trinidad, was undefeated and he will take the title from Joppy.

The Joppy/Trinidad fight is the second in the Middleweight World championship series, with the winner meeting Bernard Hopkins who wears the IBF and WBA middleweight belts. That historic fight for the undisputed middleweight king and the winner of a specially commissioned "Sugar" Ray Robinson trophy is set for September 15.

Joppy tipped the scale at 158 pounds and Trinidad at 159 pounds.

President Jagdeo sends best wishes to Frank

PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday sent best wishes and support to boxer Raul Frank who is seeking to give Guyana its second world title in his fight tonight.

"On behalf of all Guyanese and on my own behalf, I would like to offer our support and best wishes as you seek to give our country its second world title and place Guyana firmly in the arena of international boxing", the President said in a fax to Frank.

He noted that throughout his career as a professional boxer, Frank has "displayed the dedication to training, the determination to succeed and the mental toughness that is only associated with fighters of the highest calibre."

"Be assured that all Guyana believe in you and your quest to bring glory to our beloved country", he said.