'The Lion' vows to punish Dalton
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
March 25, 2004
When Leon 'The Lion' Gilkes speaks you are bound to listen and if he is half as good with his fists, then Caribbean Boxing Federation junior middleweight champion `Deadly' Denny Dalton could be in the battle of his life come Saturday.
Gilkes, a Guyanese who now resides in Canada, is promising to be on Dalton like a "leach" when the two meet in a ten-round contest at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in the main supporting bout of the Gary Stephens/Mike Carryl card.
"I really don't know why you people are making such a big fuss about Dalton and him being deadly. He is just a fighter and a lame fighter. He can't think he has no ring craft. He is just dumb. To make a long story short, I'll quit boxing if I lose this fight. It's as plain as that," Gilkes said yesterday.
"I have seen all the stuff his manager has said. I don't want to say too much now. I'm not into the talking business, but we'll see just how deadly he is. I sparred with him and know what he gives. He can't take shots. He is weak in the head. As a matter of fact, he is weak all over. He has no brains. I'm going to beat him like an old-time schoolmaster."
According to Gilkes, Dalton gets confused when he faces a moving target. "I know him. He gets confused easily. You move around a little and he gets thrown off balance. This should be a very easy fight for me."
Gilkes is being trained by George `Canchie' Oprecht at the Young Achievers Gym in Albouystown. Saturday's card will feature current International Female Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Alicia Ashley of America facing Guyanese Shondell Alfred in a non-title fight over eight rounds.
Barcelona Olympian Dillon Carew takes on `Classy' Cassius Matthews in a welterweight contest. The card also comprises several amateur fights.