Manswell in ‘dangerous’ fight

PROFESSIONAL boxing returns to the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain on Thursday after an absence of 42 years. And to mark the auspicious occasion will be Trinidad and Tobago’s biggest hope of a world championship, Kertson Manswell against Guyanese Kurt Best over six rounds. Manswell, 28, is attempting to establish a professional record and set the stage for more lucrative and international challenges in the near future. On Thursday he will be entering the ring with a 100 percent record — a victory in his solitary pro bout to date — against an oponent who has been described as “dangerous.” The hard-punching Tobagonian was a silver medallist at the Central American and Caribbean Games; Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England; and the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo. And Manswell narrowly missed out on an opportunity to box at the recent Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Promoter of the card, titled “Soca Boxing TKO for Tobago and Grenada,” Tansley Thompson has no doubts that Manswell will acquit himself well against the little-known visitor. Thompson plans to have his charge fight as often as he can and build that all important record which he thinks will earn him a shot at the Commonwealth heavyweight crown about the middle of next year. “And if everything goes well this can be the launching pad for a climb up the world rankings. We will carefully select fights from opponents who can get us close to the top. By early 2006 I think Manswell will be a world championship contender,” said Thompson. However grooming a boxer in the world of boxing is an expensive venture and Thompson has been running from pillar to post soliciting assistance not only for Manswell but also Kurt Sinnette, another promising fighter.

Like Manswell, Sinnette has had an outstanding amateur record and after an absence from the sport of several years is back in the ring. He made his professional debut on the same card as Manswell winning in impressive style. On Thursday he is also listed to square off against a Guyanese opponent — James Walcott — over six rounds. Also like Manswell, Sinnette is trying to work his way up towards a regional championship and hopefully catch the eye of the rating committee of any of the world boxing organisations. Also in action on the six-fight card is David Noel, a former world ranked middleweight who is the cousin of Trinidad and Tobago’s first world champion Claude Noel. Noel who is admired for always giving his best effort in the ring comes up against Guyana’s Troy Lewis in a six-round scrap which will determine whether he will be able to make any impression as a  contender in the regional ranks.

Now in his 30s, Noel hopes to get his career back on track and a convincing victory against Lewis will go a long way towards reinforcing his skill and talent in the public’s eye. In another contest Waldron Brooks, regarded as an exceptional entertainer in the ring comes up against Ivan Azore over four rounds. Two Guyanese fighters campaigning in Trinidad and Tobago, Melroy Corbin and Kelvin Daly clash in a six-rounder and Kelvin Placide against Alwin Lord top off the promising card. Yesterday Thompson said as an added attraction several top soca artistes will be on stage to entertain the patrons and that several special presentations will be made. He has also promised that paying patrons at the card, scheduled to get going at 8 pm, will be given a free beverage. Thompson revealed that Maximus Dan, Road March King Shurwayne Winchester and Singing Sandra will be joined by Manswell in the singing of the national anthem to start the evening’s proceedings. The Guyanese boxers are expected to arrive tomorrow and the weighing-in will be staged later in the day at the Oval.