'Stone' returns Thursday
Stabroek News
March 2, 2003
In less than one week Guyana's lone heavyweight world title hopeful Andre `Stone' Purlette would be back in the ring to face his 36th professional foe.
Purlette takes on Wade Lewis of Alabama in a supporting bout on a HBO Latino card at the Miami Arena in Florida on Thursday. Lewis has lost thrice in 18 bouts and has 12 knockouts.
"I'm looking forward to getting past this guy", Purlette said yesterday. "He is from Alabama and is known as a tough cookie."
Purlette, with only one defeat in 35 bouts, last fought in September when he dispatched Crawford Grimsley inside three rounds.
Meanwhile, the Guyanese almost made it to the big time when Clifford Etienne pulled out of a recent fight against Mike Tyson.
"I was called as replacement and my manager was negotiating until the wee hours of the morning. However, the very next day Etienne was back in the fight," Purlette said.
He declared that we would have grabbed the chance to fight Tyson with both hands. "It would have been a big thing for me. It is good to know that my name is out there," the 29-year-old Purlette said. Purlette's record is 34-1- with 31 knockouts. (Steve Ninvalle)
