Manswell primed for victory tonight

Kertson Manswell is primed to win his second bout of his short professional career tonight at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain when he faces Guyana’s Kurt Best in a six-round heavyweight contest. The bout is the main event of the Stag Energy Explosion boxing card put on by Surefire Promotions headed by Tansley Thompson. At the official weighing-in yesterday at the Oval, Manswell came in at an imposing 232 pounds and Best, who holds a slight height advantage registered 204 lbs.

Kirt Sinnette whose middleweight appointment with James Walcott of Guyana on the undercard card recorded 164 pounds. Walcott topped the scales at 156.5 pounds. The card was officially scheduled for September 11 in Tobago but had to be postponed due to the threat Hurricane Ivan posed to the island. Promoter Thompson revealed that all proceeds from the night will go towards rehabilitation efforts in Grenada and Tobago. He also said that there will be bins provided tonight for members of the public to make contributions of non-perishable food items to the countries which have been affected by Hurricane Ivan.

Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control, Melchoir Taylor yesterday lauded Thompson’s dedication to the discipline and said that he is anticipating the growth of the sport and its triumphant return to Tobago later this year. The supporting card features Tobagonian boxer David Noel (167.25 lbs) against Troy Lewis  (162.25 lbs) in a six round contest; Melroy Corbin (174.5 lbs) meets Kelvin Daly (179 lbs) over six rounds; Waldron Brooks (147) fights Iwan Azore (147 lbs) of Guyana; Kevin Placid (158 lbs)  meets Alwin Lord (158). Admission is $50 Ringside, $25 General and $10 for Children 12 and Under. All patrons will receive a free beverage and will treated to performances by top soca artistes. Action begins at 8 pm