‘I’ll be the executioner’

– says Leon ‘The Lion’ Gilkes

“This is my time to shine . . . , “says Leon ‘The Lion’ Gilkes.

Leon ‘The Lion’ Gilkes poses with the vacant super middleweight title belt. (Orlando Charles Photo)
Leon ‘The Lion’ Gilkes poses with the vacant super middleweight title belt. (Orlando Charles Photo)

Gilkes was speaking with Stabroek Sport about his upcoming national super middleweight title fight with Lennox ‘Too sharp’ Allen at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on June 27.

The two fighters will headline the S and S Promotions boxing card dubbed ‘The Final Execution’ and Gilkes said yesterday he would be the executioner.

Gilkes has fought 17 times and lost 10, being knocked out in eight.

He has tasted victory only four times.

He has lost his last six fights, two of which were title fights.

On Boxing Day last year, he fought another Guyanese Sean Corbin for the vacant WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) light heavyweight title in Trinidad and Tobago but suffered a technical knock-out in the fifth of the 10-round encounter.
Don’t be fooled

His two most recent wins were in 2004 and 2005 but Gilkes says fight fans must not be fooled this time around as he has improved and means business.

The last time the two fighters were scheduled to meet earlier in the year, Allen was at the time based in the USA and had injured his hand while sparring with the Jamaican former world champion Glen Johnson.

Gilkes had previously told reporters that Allen was always running from him and that he wanted the young fighter to put his gloves where his mouth is.

Since returning home Allen has made it clear that he wants to fight Gilkes so badly, he would even fight him for free. At the recent contract signing, Allen told Stabroek Sport that he would knockout the ‘Lion’ in four rounds.

“You know, it is impossible for Allen to do that, knocking me out can’t and will never happen at least he can’t do it….I doubt if Allen could even go the distance (12 rounds) you know, so I ain’t taking on all that he saying, all I know is that he can’t beat me,” Gilkes said. He added: “This fight means a lot to me because, I don’t know, somehow, Allen feels he is the best thing there is in boxing and that he can beat everyone, but not the Lion, it’s going to be a good fight and I know I will win.” When quizzed on whether he is predicting he will knockout his opponent, Gilkes said, “I don’t think about knockouts and so on you know, but if it comes, I will take it, trust me…he is easy for me man…I respect Allen as a friend and a boxer but when we step in that circle there, is all man for himself, I don’t have no respect for him in the ring.”

Gilkes trains at the Andrew ‘Six-Head’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown and so far he said things have been coming along smoothly.

“Everything is good man, training is good, I spar with Leon Moore and Denny Dalton and the big fighters you know, so everything is coming good for the fight….I know I’ll be ready and I hope Allen is ready because I’m coming hard for the belt.”