THE Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC) launched its upcoming fight card yesterday at the Sports Development Foundation office in Kingston.

JBBC’s president Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones said that the card is the second leg of the ‘Road to Rio’ 2016 Olympics. The seven or eight-fight card will feature four boxers from Cayman taking on four Jamaican boxers, while the other bouts will be fought among Jamaican contenders.

According to Jones, three of Jamaica’s exciting amateur boxers, namely Michael Gardner, Jonathon Hanson and Kestner Davis are expected to be on the card, though the final decision regarding who will take to the ring on fight night rests with the selection committee, headed by Kingsley Goodison.

Two of the three boxers, Hanson and Davis, returned to the island recently after being away getting special training in their craft.

The card will take place on Saturday, November 23 at the Treasure Beach Sports Park beginning at 7:00 pm.

The local boxers are expected to come from several gyms across the island including Bruising Gym, Olympic/Sugar Gym and Stanley Couch Gym — the national gym.

Jason Henzell of Breds Foundation and the Treasure Beach Sports Park said that plans are in place for an exciting weekend of boxing and entertainment which will also include Tarrus Riley in performance on Friday, November 22.

Special guests at the fight will be tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, who will be in the island at that time by special arrangement. The sisters will conduct a tennis clinic at the Treasure Beach Sports Park on the Saturday morning at 11:00 for about 90 minutes.

Retired heavyweight fighter Lennox Lewis is scheduled to be at the fight as well.

Henzell said that another massive crowd of about 4,000 to 5,000 is expected for the fight card in keeping with the first card which was held earlier this year when there were over 3,000 spectators. He also mentioned that staging this event was in keeping with showcasing the venue and the area as a sports tourism venue.

Admission for the concert on Friday night is $300, while admission for the boxing card is $500.

Proceeds from the event will be put towards the start-up of an amateur boxing programme in the area.

It was announced that Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum, Ting, Breds Foundation, Jack Sprat Restaurant and the Sports Development Foundation are the sponsors of the event.