Holmes, Controni face off for place in Contender Series semis
Richard Holmes, the Team Jamaica number two-seeded boxer, will face Team Canada number four seed Frank Controni for the third semi-final spot in the Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum ‘Best of the Best’ Contender Series, on a three-fight card at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium today starting at 8:30 pm.
The three-fight card is also expected to be highlighted by a 45-minute, rib-tickling entertainment segment that includes Wray and Nephew giveaways along with reports on past fights and a preview of what is to come from the boxers in the main event.
The first of two amateur fights will open the card at about 8:30 going three three-minute rounds, and Holmes and Controni are expected to respond to the gong that signals the opening of the first of five rounds of the evening’s main event, scheduled at approximately 9:50 pm.
Both Holmes and Controni weighed in at 154lbs and 153 ½lbs, respectively, yesterday, and immediately declared themselves in shape to move into the next round.
Pointing out to Controni that facing Holmes was a different proposition to Gregory Miller — whom he put down for a mandatory eight count, as he failed to continue and lost by the TKO route — Controni, who flew into Jamaica on Saturday, responded: “Every fight is a different opponent, and adaptability is paramount. Should this fight go the distance, so will I.”
Considering the calibre of opponent he is about to face, Controni was asked how he plans to control the fight to gain the upper hand: “With power. I pack more power in my punches than does Holmes, and that is one way of taking control.
“Every fight is tough. It is how well you execute that matters,” said Holmes, who has reached every semi-final stage and beyond in the last three stagings of the Contender Series.
And with a fourth beckoning, Holmes said: “I believe I have what it takes to repeat the process this season. I am improving steadily and am here to give it my best shot, and I doubt it will go the full distance. If it does, I will be there. This is expected to be a fight of unadulterated pressure, and pressure burst pipe”, Holmes warned.