HEP receiving favourable support for world title fight
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
April 25, 2004
HOLLAND’S Entertainment Promotions (HEP), with exclusive rights to promote and stage the first world title fight in Guyana, has begun to receive favourable responses from the business community.
Managing-director of the company, Carwyn Holland, said that the first such company to make a commitment to assist is Courts Guyana Limited.
Yesterday, the company was scheduled to make a presentation to the promoter at its Main Street branch but due to unforeseen circumstances, the event had to be put back to a later date.
Holland, however, said that the company would be assisting greatly with the promotion of the card, scheduled for May 29, possibly at the National Park.
Assistance would come in the form of advertisements -- airing, making billboards that will be posted all across Guyana and brochures to be placed on all airlines flying to Guyana, so that everyone could be sensitised about the event.
The main bout on the card will feature Guyana’s Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil and American Kathy Rivers for the WBA and IFBA titles.
The main supporting bout pits ‘Deadly’ Denny Dalton against Philiberto Alvarez while Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore will meet Elvis Martinez for the Bantamweight CABOFE title. Both fighters are from Santo Domingo.
Lennox Allen will also come up against Wayne Briggs while James Walcott is set to make his debut against Troy Lewis.
Holland said that he is trying to arrange a rematch between standby for the title bout, Pamela ‘Grenade’ London, and Trinidadian Crystal Lessy.
London won the bout by one point.
The young promoter said if the match is not made they will be seeking another opponent for London.
The budget for the staging of the card is in excess of $10M.
Holland told Chronicle Sport that the initial venue, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) was considered for the bout, but due to the magnitude of the event, the seating capacity, which holds some 1100-1200 patrons, it is too small a venue, and as such he will be looking at the National Park arena.
He said the Bourda ground was also considered but that might be out of the picture if the rain were to intervene.
“We would go for the National Park even though security could be a major issue at hand and we will also be approaching major companies to cover the centre of the National Park with tarpaulin should the rains come and it can be done.
“We had someone inspect the place and he said such can be done.”
Holland said all preparations are moving apace and by May 1 all the sanctioning fees for all the bouts must be paid.
Holland is expecting a great turnout for the card.