As the rivalry between Winston Pompey and Edmond DeClou is renewed at the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), World Boxing Council (WBC) “Locked and Loaded,” both fighters are putting the stakes of their career on the line.
At the contract signing for the bout on Friday, the two punchers were not short of words as they look to get the early scare on their opponent for the important psychological edge.
Both fighters were out of the country and clashed in a series of bouts with Declou over in Jamaica competing but unfortunately suffered a broken jaw and is now recovered while Pompey was over in French Guiana competing and is now home seeking to dominate.
Edmond Declou (left) will go toe to toe with Winston Pompey in the super middleweight category over six rounds
While the two pundits had taken different paths, they are no strangers to each other and definitely not short of bad blood, having faced each other twice. The first time they matched gloves it was neck and neck and in the end the bout was declared a technical draw. The second time, though marginally, Declou was declared the winner and can be said to have the edge on Pompey.
A glance at Declou’s colourful career shows 21 professional fights with 16 wins and a draw under his belt while Pompey has 17 fights, with three wins and three draws.
When asked on his take on the match, Pompey referenced his overseas exposure but highlighted that he has a lot of fans locally that want to see him back just as much as he wants to be fighting in Guyana. He further stated that “this is my time, I don’t care who it is” while acknowledging his opponent’s talent as being a good fighter but reiterated his confidence.
On the other hand, Declou seemed unfazed by the words of Pompey, brushing off the gestures and slapping of tables to a simple smirk, claiming he has already proven what he is capable of by defeating Pompey and also saying that he would view the first fight that ended in a draw as a win. The two renew their rivalry in a six-round super middleweight event.
Looking at the fights carded for the night of action, three amateur bouts are set to be staged, with the first match, being in the 120-pound category, pitting Rewinne David vs Akeela Malazon in a four-round punchfest.
In the second match-up (140lbs), Kelon Isaacs will go toe to toe with Euel Augustin, before Stephan Gouveia faces Jackford Joseph in the 145lb class. Both fights will be for three rounds.
Also, Imran “Magic” Khan will face Keeve Allicock in a lightweight bout.
Dexter Marques will feature in the main event as he makes his comeback to the ring over 10 rounds against Luis Alberto Requena Zarraga out of Venezuela. Marques is touted to be, if not the best, one of the best flyweight boxers in the Caribbean and is road mapped to make it to a WBC world title fight.
Marks has won 15 fights, compared to eight for Zarraga, and both men have contested in 17 fights. However, Marques’s loss has been blamed on his fighting out of his natural weight class.
The fight will see patrons able to purchase tickets at a cost of $1,000 general admission and $2,000 ringside.
