Purlette to face world rater January 3
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
December 2, 2002
Come January 3 Guyana's world title boxing hopeful Andre `Stone' Purlett will step up one gear when for the first time he opposes a world rated heavyweight.
Purlett is scheduled to fight Lance Whitaker, currently ranked 12th by the World Boxing Organisation. The fight will be held in Oklahoma.
"This will be the turning point of my career. I have to win this fight. I have no other choice," Purlett said in a telephone interview from Florida.
"Lance is a tough guy with a lot of knockouts but this is some business I must take care of. I must win." The fight was originally scheduled for December 23 but according to Purlett his opponent asked for a postponement.
The bout will be televised live on ESPN2. Purlett has only been defeated once in 35 professional fights and has won 31 bouts by knockouts.
In September he stopped Crawford Grimsley in the third round to set up the fight date with Whitaker. The Guyanese, who at present weighs in at 220 pounds, will travel to Oklahoma one week before the fight.
Three years ago Purlett moved up from the cash strapped crusierweight division to the more lucrative heavyweight category.
