Science to be used to down 'The Stealth Bomber' - Lassie's trainer
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
June 26, 2004
Guyana's female world champion Gwendolyn `The Stealth Bomber' O'Neil (left) is all seriousness as she poses for this photograph with Trinidadian Crystal Lassie. The two meet in a six-round non-title fight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall this evening. (P
Trinidadian Crystal Lassie weighed in 18 pounds heavier than world champion Gwendolyn `The Stealth Bomber' O'Neil at the Wind Jammer Hotel last night and her trainer Fitzroy Richards declared that science will be used to defeat the home girl.
"Crystal is now a scientific fighter. In boxing there are three sectors. There is the fighter, the counter puncher and the scientific boxer. Crystal is now at the stage of the scientific fighter," Richards said.
O'Neil, the WIBA light-heavyweight champion and Lassie will meet in the main bout of tonight's Smart Touch/Freeman's Promotions card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
"She has advanced a lot since she last fought her." Lassie, who arrived in Guyana on Thursday and weighed in at 186 pounds, would only say that the Guyanese `Stealth Bomber' would not be able to catch her.
Asked if it should be interpreted as a declaration to run rather than fight, her trainer said no. "We will be using science to beat O'Neil. Just science," Richards added.
Because of the difference in weight, the six-round main bout is now a catchweight contest. O'Neil, who less than a month ago was crowned a world champion promised a good performance.
"I will be making Guyana proud. God is in charge and I'm going to win this fight."
Undefeated Caribbean Boxing Federation junior lightweight champion `Hurricane' Hugo Lewis will be fighting a much taller opponent when he blows into Barbadian Shurwyne Marshall in one of two main supporting bouts.
However, Lewis, who at 130 pounds is one pound heavier than his opponent, insisted that height would not be the determining factor when the bell rings to start the 10-rounder. Lewis would give no predictions other than he will be the victor.
But in total contrast Shawn Garnett who battles St Lucian Benjamin Modeste in a 10-round junior middleweight encounter promised a knock out.
"I'm a quality fighter and I know that this one will be a knockout. I can't say when but I know that it will not go the distance," Garnette said.
In the other fights on the card Shelly `The Agricola Boom' Gibson takes on Margaret `Chico' Walcott in a four-rounder. In the preliminaries Linden Arthur takes on Kelsy Ross and Cecil Smith fights Rudy Fraser. Both fights are in the featherweight division.
The first bout begins at 7 pm.