Thursday, March 28, 2024

Martial arts students confident

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IF THERE IS one thing the Barbadian competitors have going for them, it is confidence ahead of Saturday’s 5th Regional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Championships at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
Their bravado was evident during the event’s media launch, which was conducted by the Caribbean Fight League’s (CFL) director Rollins Alleyne at Bubba’s Sports Bar and Restaurant yesterday morning.
Local boys Calvin Ifill and Sheldon Jones, who will be battling overseas opponents, said their preparation has been good and they are ready to rumble in Massacre 5 which starts at 6 p.m. under the CFL banner.
Ifill, a former amateur kick-boxer who was the 2002 South American champion in Venezuela, said he is fully prepared for his heavyweight title match against Trindadian Kerron Parris, and will be giving the spectators a show.
“I believe that once you go into the ring, you should look the part, you should look like a fighter, so basically I have done some things in training camp to have that international look when I present myself,” Ifill said.
Ifill said his training had gone very well over the past three months, with Alleyne organising some additional boxing drills and coaching sessions on Sundays, and he had done a fair deal of cardio work as well, also preparing mentally for battle.
“My cardio is superb while I personally believe that you’ve got to be able to see yourself in the fight before the fight, so you have to sit down and go through it mentally,” said 36-year-old Ifill, who tips the scales at 220 pounds ahead of tomorrow’s weigh-in at Reggae Lounge.
“I did things that I figure would come in the match. Positions that I think that I can get caught in, I worked on those positions. I strengthened the weaknesses, so that basically I can be an all-round fighter and be on top of the game,” Ifill noted.
Jones is also brimming with confidence as he prepares to take on Steve Ardees of Martinique in a middleweight battle.
“I have been training four, five days a weeks, a couple of hours every day conditioning and working on various techniques,” Jones said.
“I am excited about the challenge, not frightened. Win, lose or draw, I’ve never been in a boring fight. I lost on my debut but I don’t expect to lose again,” said Jones who has one victory and a loss in his two MMA fights.
Oneale Chase, 46, said he didn’t need to bring anything special to the ring to overcome compatriot Renaldo Stuart in their welterweight encounter.
“I will be bringing my normal skills to the ring. I have been before and will just be coming out to do my best and give the people a good showing,” Chase said, who has six wins and one loss.
One of the highlights of the night’s card will be the super heavyweight title match between 270-pounder Jonathan Lette of Martinique and Thaddeus Francis of St Lucia, who weighs 240 pounds.
There will also be an additional heavyweight clash between Kevin Holder of Barbados and Kerwin Carrabon of Trinidad and Tobago.
In the other bouts, Kittitian pro fighter Tija Stanley battles Bryan Bohouri of Martinique in a light-heavyweight title match; Trinidadian Stephan White faces Romell Inniss of Barbados; Barbadian Jason Greene opposes Trinidadian Seon Arthur in a bantamweight clash and Jonathan Giannone of France will defend his title against Trinidadian Ruel Henry.
There will also be two junior contests with Barbadian Shakeem Mascoll taking on Trinidadian Kadeem Brewster and Dimaggio Cumberbatch facing Stefano Alleyne.

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