Iva Weston fights in Florida tonight

TOP Trinidad and Tobago female boxer Iva Weston steps into the ring tonight to battle world fourth ranked American fighter Belinda Laraquente. The action takes place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, timed to begin at 9 pm. Before leaving for Florida on Thursday, the No1 ranked Weston said: “This is the happiest time in my life.” She said trainer Fitzroy Richards and manager/trainer Kim Quashie prepared her physically, psychologically and spiritually for tonight’s non-title bout.

A very focused Weston said she ignored Carnival “to keep my thoughts on my job.” Her opponent is a very experienced boxer with 20 fights under her belt, including bouts against Christie Martin, Shakura Witherspoon, Tracy Bird and Russian Zulfia Koutdoussova, winning 15. Rated No 1 in the Youth World Title Class (not over 22-years-old), the 19-year-old Weston said she was proud to be representing Trinidad and Tobago. She thanked the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control, the Amateur Boxing Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the Ministry of External Affairs for making her trip to Florida for the bout possible.