Potts: Lawrence in Edward’s head already

Lawrence and Edwards would be representing Siparia and Cocorite respectively with the former confident his youth and physical fitness will prove decisive in the bout.

Speaking to Newsday during a training session yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium gym, Lawrence, 29-years-old, continued his verbal attacks against his rival.

“I have been very busy and active in the ring during the last six months, whereas my opponent (Edwards) has been on the bench for quite a while (over a year). Therefore, he (Edwards) currently has ‘ring rust’ and he would first have to deal with dusting off the cobwebs when he enters the ring.

I am fresh and ready because I’ve been training really hard and I am confident, with the training sessions I have been going through over the past several months, that I would get the result from (my) performance,” Lawrence declared.

He added: “There is a lot of confidence in my corner and I would go out there and do everything that is required of me and what I’m told to do.” Lawrence still stands by the vow he made to himself when he declared he will not let a ‘pensioner’ (Edwards is 37-years-ol) defeat him.

Boxing promoter and manager of Lawrence’s corner, Boxu Potts, said a plan has been formulated to ensure his fighter’s success. “We’ve been working on the fight plan for quite some time because we do not expect a walk in the park but Sheldon is ready and raring to go,” Potts declared.

He went on to discuss the hype surrounding Saturday’s clash.

“They would not only be representing themselves but furthermore their constituency and homeland and this generates excitement especially in and around the people,” he explained.

As the countdown continues, Potts said the mind games will continue and has been working.

“Sheldon got into his opponent’s head by calling him a pensioner and he led to the realisation that he is not so young anymore and he is in the process of dealing with that along with coming off the bench after quite some time,” Potts noted.

Potts also elaborated on the tactical dynamics approaching the bout.

“We’ve studied Nigel and my fighter is going to relax and execute. Edwards would be seeing a different Sheldon Lawrence in front of him; something he has not anticipated and that is what is going to confuse him. He (Edwards) has never been hit before by such a heavy puncher and our plan is to stop him very early as we do not expect this fight to go past six rounds once the young, strong, powerful- hitting Lawrence starts landing on him like a heavyweight.” Also generating a lot of interest is another rivalry scheduled on the undercard for Saturday as the Venezuela contingent is set to square off against our local talent in the WBC Amateur and Youth Pro League.

Tickets are priced at $150 gallery and ringside at $100 along with an after-party till 12