TT’s Hassette in battle today

They are Caribbean light-welterwewight champion and team captain Aaron Hassette, Jules De Gannes, who is on a major comeback trail and CABA Games silver medallist and lightweight Aaron Prince.

Hassette, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force will trade punches with Jamaican Ricardo Smith on the night’s programme, beginning at 6 pm.

The exciting and experienced Hassette will enter the ring as the overwhelming favourite having defeated his counterpart (Smith) in an Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) Champion-ship last year.

The lanky Hassette will enter the ring enjoying an advantage in height and skill for tonight’s contest.

Meanwhile, De Gannes of the Tigers Boxing Gym in Port-of-Spain will have a date with Argentinian Luis Rueda in theirfour-round bout.

De Gannes may be comforted by the fact that his opponent twice failed to secure a place in the Pan American championship which is scheduled for the South American nation of Brazil in July.

The talented De Gannes however is returning to the ring after a broken hand kept him out for more than a year. He missed out on last year’s CABA games at the same venue but impressed selectors for a place on the national team after a good showing at a box-off between Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico at the Cosmic Boxing Gym in Marabella.

In another key bout Prince of Gladiators, will be featured against Jamaican Shawn Wheatle in a regional showdown at 1 pm.

Christopher Freitas another local fighter will be making his debut in the red, white and black in the Featherweight Division against Colombian Miguel Escandon, while the promising Enoch Romeo will also be featured in a battle only moments later.

Romeo, 26, who jump-started his career a year ago, is being groomed to follow in the footsteps of unbeaten professional Kerston Manswell. He is among a number of fighters carrying the burden of a place at the Pan Am championship.

The twin-island republic is being represented by nine fighters at the championship including Romeo who is from Tigers.

Only last night, flyweight Aaron Cumberbatch challenged Willian Urina of Colombia; while middleweight Andrew Fermin came up against another Colombian- in Monroy Jeison.

Denzil Salazar also had a date with Marcelo Ponce of Argentina in another contest last night.

A number of Canadian boxers were also featured in four fights last night. The quartet of Isho ShibA (bantamweight), Kevin Bizier (lightweight), Adam Trupish (light-welterweight) and Francy Ntetu (middleweight) all featured in fights last evening.

Today:

(1:00PM)- 57 kg: Otoniel Ortiz (ISV) v Nicholas Walters (Jam); Christopher Freitas v Miguel Escandon (Col); Omar Ward (Bar) v Orlando Rizo (NCA).

64 kg: Hugo Meounnar (ISV) v Jahzier Lewis (St Vin); Eduardo Mendonza (NCA) v Jose Mosquera (Col); Aaron Prince (TT) v Shawn Wheatle (Jam); winner Per/Bah v winner Can/Mex.

75 kg: Wilky Compfort (Hai) v Roy Cookie (DMA); Oscar Rivera (ESA) v Kevin White (Jam); kember Pierre (Guy) v winner Ecu/Pur); winner Can/Per v winner TT/Col.

(6:00PM)- 60 kg: Jewel Lewis (Gre) v Aubrey Moore (Guy); Luis Rueda (Arg) v Jules de Gannes (TT); Valentino Knowles ((Bah) v Noel Lopez (Mex).

69 kg: John Jackson (ISV) v Mervin Lantan (DMA); Ronald Montes (Col)v Eliecer Gonzalez (Pur); Aaron Hassette (TT) v Ricardo Smith (Jam); Tureano Johnson (Bah) v winner Can/Guy.

91 kg: Ismael Mendonza (NCA) v Julio Delvis (Col); Julio Delvis (Col); Gerrington Richards (Aru) v Jorge Quinones (Ecu); winner TT/Dom v winner St Vin/Arg).