Ria defends boxing belt tonight

THE STAGE is set for the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Mini Flyweight title fight holder Ria Ramnarine and Guyana’s Stephanie George tonight. The ten-rounder will be staged at the Central Regional Indoor Auditorium at Saith Park, Chaguanas.
Melchior Taylor, president of Trinidad and Tobago’s Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC) said the main bout will follow a series of kick-boxing, San Shou and Muay Thai events from 8 pm.
San Shou will be a demonstration sport at the 2008 Beijing Olympics while Muay Thai is a form of fighting that is similar to wrestling. Yesterday at the weigh-in ceremony at the Ma Pau Private Members Club,Woodbrook, Ramnarine confirmed a one-pound weight advantage of 105.
She has been inactive for more than a year.
George was at 104 pounds on the eve of the big contest. She has a height and reach advantage. Ramnarine was last in the ring in her defeat of American Yvonne Capels — a controversial decision in March last year at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo. Since then she has made two attempts to defend the crown but both failed to come off.
The first was against American Marianne Chubirka but that fight scheduled for Chaguanas earlier this year was called off at the last moment over a dispute about the weight of the gloves.
Ramnarine also travelled to London for a fight in Hungary but visa problems prevented her from reaching her destination.
However, she has has been training hard at the Fine Line Club in Montrose, Chaguanas and is set to take on the Guyanese challenger.
It will will be George’s third attempt at a world title belt. She was beaten in her last bout against Lisa “Bad News” Brown, a Trinidad and Tobago-born Canadian citizen who holds the world championship.
George was also defeated by Trinidadian Vicky Boodram in a non-title fight at the Jean Pierre Complex on September 23 2005.
Yesterday George said she will have to work twice as hard for a win being away from her native Guyana.
Sherry Persad, Ma Pau’s Public Relations Officer said the private members club stands firmly behind Ramnarine whose preparation it has been assisting.
She said its involvement in women’s boxing is indicative of its support of the young people in Trinidad and Tobago.
Persad said Ma Pau is extremely proud to sponsor Ramnarine — who has never disappointed it since the club came on board.
Ramnarine will receive $20,000 win, lose or draw tonight while her challenger will pocket $11,000.
Erva Bruno, chairperson of the WIBA and president of the newly formed Women’s Boxing Trinidad and Tobago (WBTT) said the bout will kick-start the development of women’s boxing locally.
She revealed that (WBTT) will be responsible for providing facts about women boxers among other useful information.
Bruno also announced that the WBTT will be working toward the formation of a Caribbean International Women’s Boxing Association Championship (CIWBAC) soon.