By Emmerson Campbell
Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) bantamweight champion, Guyanese Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred’s bout with Mexican Yazmin Rivas for her International Boxing Federation (IBF) female bantamweight title has been called off.
The bout which was scheduled to be held in Gimnasio de las Liebres, Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico on February 4 has been called off due to visa issues.
Rivas is now scheduled to defend her title against Argentine Edith Soledad Matthysse on the same date and venue.
In an interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday, the ‘Mystery Lady’ and her coach Sebert Blake indicated that the promoter of the card did not furnish the Mexican Embassy with the requisite information for the issuance of the required visas.
Blake said: “The promoter of the card did not give the Embassy the required information about us, they were waiting on an e-mail from him and then they would have given us the visas. The embassy needed some sort of information from him but apparently he didn’t give it to them.”
Blake also disclosed that Alfred’s international agent, Seon Bristol, has made representation for her to receive preparatory compensation.
The ‘Mystery Lady’ who turns 30 in July, said that although she was disappointed, occurrences such as this one do happen in the sport of boxing and, as a professional, she just has to set her sights on a future opponent.
“I am a little disappointed knowing that I have been training for the fight but things like this and even worse happen in boxing. I will still be in the gym maintaining my focus and fitness for whoever my next opponent might be,” Alfred noted.
Alfred also revealed that all is not lost as she could be fighting for another world title as early as next month in Mexico.
That fight should be for the World Boxing Association (WBA) title which is held by Mexican Janeth Perez.
Alfred, who has not lost a bout since 2006, has a record of 13 wins and five losses with four of her victories coming by knockout.
