Placide on way to world title

KEVIN PLACIDE  has high hopes for himself and boxing in Trinidad and Tobago. And he is also hopeful he will crash the international scene in the next five years.

The 5 foot 7 inches  147-pound 29-year-old has assembled a team to represent him, so he can attain international recognition. This team consists of his trainer and former Olympian Kirt Sinnette, Winston Cox, Gordon Hoyte, advisors, Cecil Forde, promoter, and Buxo Potts, matchmaker/manager. Placide who trains at Tigers Gym in Port-of-Spain, is  Caribbean champion for three years and national champ for eight years in three divisions - junior welter, welter and lightning weight.  The brash-speaking Placide regards himself as “The Messiah” of local boxing and said he intends to “sell” Trinidad’s boxing talent to the rest of the world. Potts said his charge may sound arrogant, “But it is an  attitude apparent in many famous boxers.”

The ex-jockey claims to have been on the local and international boxing scene for over 35 years, and has helped many local boxers including Giselle Salandy, Tyrone Danny and Wayne Braithwhaite. At present, Potts is also working with Guyanese boxer Leon Moore, and said world famous promoter Don King is very interested in Moore Moore, considered a rising Caribbean star, is expected to get a shot at a world title in the near future. And Potts is hoping to emulate this kind of success with Placide. Speaking about his relationship with Placide, Potts said, “ I have signed up much fighters to manage them for the simple reason that they lack talent and motivation in areas, however I am putting my fingers on the dotted line for Placide, “He is talented, skilful, and has wisdom to understand the principles of boxing. He has good motivation and attitude in and out of the ring.”

Speaking about the state of local boxing, Potts also had strong, liberal views. He said:  “Boxing in this country has taken a downward curve because the people in the game dwell on too much rhetoric and petty slander. “If we can understand and pool our resources together as done in the case with Placide and the team we have assembled, boxing will survive, and would give Trinidad boxers by extension, a chance to ply their trade internationally.”  Potts claimed: “Placide came to me as a good package and a good deal and I like him. “We have a good working team and Cecil (Forde) has worked tirelessly as a promoter and together with the rest of the team, to ensure the game will survive.” Placide is expected to fight Larry Bruce in Arima on August 8, in a match touted as “Arima vs. The Rest of the Country,” when he will get a chance to showcase his talents.