‘Farmer’ fights German April 19

TRINIDAD and Tobago heavyweight boxer Jimmy “Farmer” Joseph has been offered a shot at the World Boxing Association (WBA) FediCentro Championship.

Joseph, who is attempting to kickstart his fledgling career, comes up against Puerto Rican boxer, Richel Hersisia, who now lives in Germany, on April 19 at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, St Michael’s, Barbados. The bout is being promoted by Randy Glasgow Boxing Promotions. Glasgow is optimistic that Joseph will defeat his highly touted opponent. “I am confident ‘Farmer’ will win the contest. It is an excellent opportunity for him to get back into the international spotlight,” said Glasgow yesterday. Last year Glasgow was at the forefront of an appeal to have Joseph issued a visa to enter the United States for a bout slated for Las Vegas, Nevada.

However the attempt was futile as the US Embassy officials in Port-of-Spain deemed Joseph unwelcomed in their homeland citing his flouting of a previous visa when he overstayed the time permitted. “It was very frustrating for Joseph, he wanted to quit because all the big boxing opportunities were in the US and if he couldn’t go it made no sense,” said Glasgow. But with the current war in Iraq, Glasgow said the sport is not enjoying much attention in the US which provides Joseph with a window of opportunity to fight Europeans and other top non-American contenders.

Joseph’s record of 17 bouts with two defeats and two draws is not as impressive as Hersisia’s 17-0 but fighting in the Caribbean gives the TT boxer home advantage. “He is training very hard under Fitzroy Hoyte at the Tigers Gym in Port-of-Spain and is serious about upsetting the German. He really wants to win the title,” said Glasgow yesterday. The young promoter said the absence of a Boxing Board of Control in Trinidad and Tobago is preventing the staging of professional cards here.

However he said he has been assured that a new board will be announced soon by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Roger Boynes. “I expect the board to be in place soon so boxing can get back on a firm footing,” said Glasgow. He said professional boxing is the lifeblood of the promotion industry and though he has attempted to put on amateur cards, the professionals need to be brought back into the game to make the sport attractive and offer opportunities for the fighters to earn a reasonable living. “The boxing impasse of last year, when the top boxers on contract refused to fight under the former Boxing Board of Control, hurt the sport. Now we hope that all of that is under the bridge and we can get the fight game going again,” said Glasgow.