Sinnette, Innis fight for boxing title in P/Town

IN CELEBRATION of  Princes Town’s 125th Anniversary, Kirt Sinnette will meet Ricardo Innis for the Trinidad and Tobago Super Middleweight (168 lbs) title. The bout will be staged at the Princes Town Car Park on Friday as part of a professional and amateur card to honour hometown hero Yolande  Pompey and signal the climax of the town’s festivities. Details of the card were given yesterday at a press conference at City Hall in Port-of-Spain. Tansley Thompson of Surefire Promotions lamented the loss of young lives to a wave of wanton criminal activity last year when he made a major foray into local boxing and put on five successful cards. He also brought Kerston Manswell and Sinnette into the professional boxing fray hoping to catapult them to world championship glory.

Thompson spoke as though he had been hurt personally and promised that 2005 will be a year for a turn-around, calling on all communities to unite in utilising boxing as a tool for reviving the spirit of Trinidad and Tobago. Councillor for Princes Town Clifton De Coteau made it clear that he was in full support of the card and Surefire’s thrust to have boxing permeate all corners of Trinidad and Tobago, he in turn challenged all other municipalities to follow suit. Melchior Taylor, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC), expressed pleasure in the Princes Town Regional Corporation’s effort to support the discipline and commended the Amateur Boxing Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ABATT) for their undying commitment to the sport.

The card also features CABA alumnus Michael Springer, described by Winston Yearwood of Super Power Gym as an exciting young fighter making his professional debut against Waldron Brooks in a four-round contest. Speaking ahead of the 12 round bout on Friday, in the absence of his opponent, Sinnette matter-of-factly stated: “The victory is mine,” a boast he’ll be eager to back up. Cecil Forde revealed that Friday’s card is the beginning of the selection process for the 2005 CABA Games team. And as such the five amateur bouts involving 2004 CABA Games medalists Leroy Isidore, Kirt Blackwell, Tiana Sosa Saney and Nick Boodram are expected to be hotly contested. The official weigh-in for the Princes Town Regional Corporation and Armour’s Funeral Home sponsored event is on Thursday at Tigers Gym, Prince Street Port-of-Spain on Friday evening. Frst bell is 8 pm and admission is free.

Following is the full card:
Amateurs: Nigel Edwards (175 lbs) vs Denzil Salazar (175 lbs); Michael De Freitas (126 lbs) vs Leroy Isidore (123 lbs); Kirt Blackwell (157 lbs) vs Andrew Fermin (153 lbs); Tiana Sosa Saney (136 lbs) vs Nakita Harris (130 lbs); Nick Boodram (141 lbs) vs Aaron Prince (142 lbs).
Professional: National Super Middleweight title bout —  Kirt Sinnette (168 lbs) vs Ricardo Innis (168 lbs); Michael Springer (140 lbs) vs Waldron Brooks (140 lbs).