Prized pugilists, Keevin ‘Lightning’ Allicock and Desmond Amsterdam will both take the ring today at the ongoing International Boxing Association (IBA) Men’s World Boxing Championships at the Humo Arena in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The pair will look to win their respective bouts and progress to the round-of-16 in their weight divisions.
While Allicock will take to the ring for the second time this week, Amsterdam, nicknamed ‘Dynamite’ will aim to detonate in his first encounter at the lucrative event which is set to conclude on May 14.
Amsterdam, the reigning Sportsman-of-the-Year, will match gloves with Bulgaria’s Kristiyan Nikolov in their light heavyweight, round-of-32 fight.
Allicock who won his opening round-of-64 bout with a third round stoppage of Yhlas Gylychjanov of Turkmenistan on Monday, is set to take on Khalokv Abdumalik of Uzbekistan.
At this year’s event, big stakes and big money is on the line.
More than 640 boxers are currently registered to participate in 13 men’s weight categories.
Seven defending World Champions are among those who will fight for glory in Tashkent, including Sofiane Oumiha from France, Tomoya Tsuboi and Sewonrets Okazawa from Japan, Loren Alfonso from Azerbaijan, Saken Bibossinov from Kazakhstan, Yoenlis Hernandez Martinez and Julio La Cruz from Cuba to shine in the ring again.
Many more medallists from various World Championships editions are going to be in action where strong newcomers at the international stage and experienced participants are going to challenge the titleholders. Doubled prize money fund of US$5.2 million is at stake, with gold medallists receiving US$200,000. For runners-up, the prize is US$100,000, and each of the third place is awarded with US$50,000. (Emmerson Campbell)
