Weston bound for California, USA

AFTER 24 hours of uncertainty, female boxer Iva Weston breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when she was granted a visa to travel to the United States of America.

This will allow the 17-year-old Siparia schoolgirl the opportunity to fulfill her obligation to challenge American Jennifer Alcon for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) lightweight championship on December 11. The ten-round contest is the main bout on a six-fight card to be staged at the Palace Indian Gaming Centre in California. According to Fitzroy Richards, manager/trainer of Weston, the fight is to be broadcast by cable television station HBO and several other local stations in the US.

On Thursday Weston’s application for a visa to travel to the US was turned down by US Embassy officials at Marli Street, Port-of-Spain. But after hurried conversations between Richards and promotion outfit in the US, Weston was advised to return to the Embassy yesterday. The Sobo Village, Palo Seco native is undefeated in 17 fights, ten coming by the knock out route and is confident of claiming the world title against an experienced opponent who is 16 years her senior. Weston is five-feet six inches tall, just a half-inch taller than the American but is said to be a more technically correct fighter and is expected to cause serious problems with her ambidexterous style. “We expect the fight to end before the ten rounds. There is going to be some serious blood in the ring and the ring doctor will have to play his part. Weston is going to dish out some punishment on December 11,” said Richards yesterday.

Richards has already taken another TT boxer to an international championship when Giselle Salandy captured the Ibero-Latin American crown late last year in Curacao with a decision against Paolo Rojas of Colombia. He is confident that Weston can go one better and win a world championship. “Over the past few weeks Weston has become a faster, more scientific boxer who will have a marked advantage against Alcon,” said Richards. He said the Americans are not taking the TT challenge lightly as Alcon has moved camp to Bakersfield, regarded as a training ground of world champions for advice and specialised assistance in preparation for the December 11 scrap. Alcon, trained by her husband Brad is also undefeated in 17 fights, winning 11 by knock-outs. She has been looking for tall, young and strong fighters as sparring partners in anticipation of the showdown with Weston. “Alcon is basically a slugger and hard puncher but will get her biggest test against Weston in a clash of styles,” said Richards. The local contingent comprising Richards, Weston, assistant manager/trainer Kim Quashie and Molly Boxhill, representative of the Boxing Board of Control is expected to leave for the US on Monday. Also in the party is international matchmaker Buxo Potts.