Bajan invasion due today for Sports Hall showdown
- pro debuts for Walcott, Greaves and Gibson as Shaka Henry's cousin joins the fray
By Clyde Pestano
Stabroek News
May 22, 2003
It will be Guyana versus Barbados at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Saturday night when two Barbadians tackle Guyanese in separate boxing matches.
Guyana's `Deadly' Denny Dalton is set to clash with Barbados' St. Lucia born Christopher `Shaka' Henry in the main bout over 12 exciting rounds in a Junior Middleweight encounter.
According to Trevor Arno secretary of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) the main bout between Dalton and Henry should have happened two years ago but due to several hiccups along the way it never materialized.
According to the board's secretary, a large contingent of Barbadians are expected in the country today for this long-awaited and overdue fistic battle.
He said that the last time the bout was postponed was April this year.
Arno stated that many fans of the two boxers were looking forward for this bout and a scorcher is expected. He added that the fight will be a close one as both boxers have something to prove and the better man will win.
Quizzed about Henry's recent win over Jamaican Earl `Boom Boom' Foskin, Arno said that Henry's last fight a couple of days ago was not really a boxing match because the Jamaican does not have the class of a Denny Dalton who hits very hard with both hands.
The Bajan invasion continues as a second Barbadian will also appear on the card organized by the local board. This will push the number of fights from six to seven.
Arno disclosed that Marcus Thomas who is the cousin of `Shaka' Henry will match gloves with Guyanese James Walcott in a middleweight match-up. Walcott is set to make his professional debut.
The secretary revealed to Stabroek Sport that Samuel Layne the manager of Henry had informed the board of his intentions of bringing another fighter (Thomas) here to do battle.
Arno also stated that the main supporting bout between Gwendolyn `The Stealth Bomber' O'Neil and Margaret `Chico' Walcott will be another scorcher and will not last the distance.
He said that the two women hate each other so much that it will be action from the opening bell. The two have fought twice before with the `Bomber' winning the first fight and the second declared a draw.
The Cheryl Greaves versus Shelly Gibson match-up will also be action packed. The two women are making their professional debuts and will both be seeking a winning start to their careers.
Gibson who is from Agricola will have a large contingent from that village on hand come fight night while Greaves who `operates' around the Stabroek Market and vendor's arcade will get support from many of her colleagues and friends.
Arno is urging Guyanese to come out in large numbers to support their countrymen and women so as to repel the Bajan invasion.
