The Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC) card Locked and Loaded will now see the introduction of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting at the Giftland Mall, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on April 23.
The battle lines are drawn. From left; Guyana’s main event fighter Dexter Marques, President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control Peter Abdool, Chairman of Giftland Mall Roy Beepat, President of the Trinidad and Tobago MMA Federation Jason Fraser, Michael Singh and Gavin Singh of Ruff & Tuff Central 592
Originally set for April 9 and only seeing boxing, this change was announced at a press conference at the fight venue on Friday.
According to President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool this move was made to facilitate the inclusion of the MMA fights. “MMA has been extremely successful in the last few years, it has rivaled and in some instances surpassed boxing in its popularity. It has not come here for the want of not trying because there are gentlemen here who have been trying very very hard to bring it to Guyana. Because our platform has been set up and our card has been set up, I was approached by Mike [Michael] Singh and introduced to Jason and in point of fact what had happened was for the first time we have an absolutely unique opportunity to bring MMA to Guyana as part of this fight. Consequently to facilitate this happening we have moved the card from April 9 to April 23,” Abdool said.
While the local boxers were training for the Locked and Loaded card, it had significant implications.
Abdool said “You would recall the event was meant to be two things, an amateur programme which was intended to facilitate the launching of the WBC amateur programme in Guyana and as such a singularly important event in itself. The professional programme involved the likes of Dexter Marques. While our boxers have been training and all has been going well we have been the beneficiary of I would say a bit of luck that we could not afford to pass up.”
In listing the order of events of the night the GBBC President informed the gathering that “there will be the launch of the WBC amateur tournament which will supplement amateur boxing in Guyana and their amateur fights and then the professional fights and then for the first time MMA fight.”
Meanwhile, President of the Trinidad and Tobago MMA Federation and representative of International MMA federation for the Pan American region, Jason Fraser noted that it was a delight to bring the sport to this country after launching it in Jamaica recently.
“I am proud to say that our federation is definitely happy to be a part of this historic event and partnering with fight central out of Guyana headed by Michael Singh,” Fraser said
The MMA boss noted that amongst the cards set for the night there is all possibilities that there will be the inclusion of MMA star out of Guyana, Shanice Bobb who has already made an impact in the Trinidad and Tobago arena.
“This event is going to be a very unique one as we are not just going to bring mixed martial arts alone but three champions, the Ruff n Tuff champion out of Trinidad and Tobago Josh Welkins and martin Joseph. We will be bringing five undercards which will bring about the best talents in Guyana to be a part of, Shanice Bobb out of Guyana won a fight in Trinidad and Tobago and we are hoping to have her in the event against an opponent from Tobago,” Fraser added.
The event will see the three amateur fights for the local boxers clashing before the MMA fighters take to the ring and finally the three professional fights with admission remaining the same set at $1,000 general admission and $2,000 ringside.
Abdool added that the prices are set at this in an effort to attract a larger viewing audiences as well as a means of bringing back Sunday night fights as was the tradition of the past while Fraser applauded Giftland Mall and their administration for coming on board and being a part of history as they has always been, noting that they will go down in history as the “first soil in Guyana to host MMA fighting.”
