Guyanese boxers break into WBC top 40 rankings

By Emmerson Campbell

Local Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) champions flyweight Dexter ‘De Kid’ Marques, bantamweight Elton ‘Coolie Bully’ Dharry, welterweight Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy and middleweight Edmond ‘Wonder Boy’ DeClou have all recently broken into the World Boxing Council (WBC) world Top 40 rankings.

Simeon Hardy

Breaking into the world rankings of the WBC which is the most recognized and distinguished sanctioning body in boxing is no small achievement and is therefore a testament of the hard work by the boxers as well as the Guyana Fight Night Pro Am initiative which has molded these fighters from the commencement of their careers.

Once a fighter has made it into the top 40 WBC world rankings, he is eligible for bigger fights against higher rated boxers as well as a shot first at the WBC International title, then the WBC Silver belt and finally the WBC world title, the most prestigious title in boxing.

During and interview yesterday with Marques (rated no. 31) and Hardy (rated no.38), both fighters praised the monthly Pro Am initiative and stated that with more support, the best is yet to come.

Dexter Marques

Said Marques: “Rated number 31 in the world by the WBC makes me feel good because it means that boxing is going ahead in Guyana. I want to say thanks to the boxing board for supporting and exposing me so I could get a rating without them I don’t know if I would have reached so far. I am real thankful to the boxing board.”

He added:“All I have to do now is keep focused, get some more wins under my belt and get a world title shot, which is my dream.”

Hardy, who has won all of his nine fights and has built his resume’ on the Pro Am initiative told Stabroek Sport:”I feel very happy about it because to be rated at no. 38 in the world after just nine fights is good. All my fights have been at home on the Friday Night card. That is where I started and as you could see, not only me but other local fighters are world rated so we are getting somewhere in the world and we can put Guyana on the map.

“I’m looking to go out there and take the world by storm. I’m not looking to look back. The world title is what my main aim is and to be rated in the top-40 is the first step on the ladder. All we need is the support and the right people behind us.”

Edmond DeClou

Hardy added:“I am one of the stars that came out of the Pro Am initiative and look what is happening. So I would like to tell the public just keep supporting the cards because they are youths coming up and I think amateurs need more than the professionals.”

President of CABOFE, the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) and brainchild of the Pro Am cards, Peter Abdool, said that the initiative is a success because it has created opportunities for boxers such as DeClou, Marques, Hardy and Dharry to build their records and be recognized.

Elton Dharry

Abdool also emphasized that the objective of the monthly card is to make world champions out of local fighters which he believes will happen in the not too distant future.

The CABOFE boss also intimated that he was proud of the fighters and their trainers and also thanked the sponsors of the initiative (Digicel, Courts, Ansa McAL, Banks DIH Limited, Giftland Office Max, Guyoil, NCN, Ministry of Sport, Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and the Director of Sport ,Neil Kumar) for their unwavering support.

Dharry is rated 38 in his division while DeClou is rated as the 39th best middleweight in the world.