‘Frog’ Holmes set to jump over Leblond in Contender semis
The 15-week Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum Contender Boxing Series for the welterweight title has reached its most crucial stage with the number one seed Team Jamaica’s Richard “Frog” Holmes and his Team Canada opponent Dave Leblond meeting in the first of two semi-finals at the Chinese Benevolent Association today.
The bout to be fought over seven rounds will headline a three-fight card with two amateur bouts opening the programme starting at 8:30 pm.
Holmes, who launched the eighth staging of the Contender Series with a decision against his Team Canada opponent Lloyd Reyes returned to book his semi-final spot in the competition with a unanimous decision against Larone Whyte.
His Canadian challenger Leblond opened his challenge against Toriano Nicholas then removed former Contender winner Donovan “Police” Campbell after two rounds to book his spot.
At the weigh-in at the SureTime Medical Offices yesterday, both fighters exuded confidence that they are ready to move into the final, having done what was asked of them by their trainers, with Holmes tipping the scale at 147lb and Leblond at 146lb.
“I’ve been in the series for over seven years; I’ve been to the finals two times; I’ve been to the semi-finals. This is my last year in the Contender and I have to leave with a bang. I really deserve a title to be in the series so long,” said Holmes.
“I’m really hungry for this. For him this represents a trip to come to Jamaica to fight. Winning the Contender title, I don’t know that it’ll mean a lot to him, but it’ll mean a lot more to me. For me, this competition means a lot, it’s a bigger deal.
“I could say that I was 2018 Contender champion, to know that I have that, Richard ‘Frog’ Holmes as the Wray & Nephew Contender champion,” added the 31-year-old.
Holmes has fought 25 times as a professional, winning 17, eight by way of knockout. By contrast, Leblond has fought eight times, winning four times with one knockout. The Team Canada fighter also suffered four knockouts in his four losses.
Despite that, Leblond’s manager, Samuel Planter, says he’s ready. “He’s ready for anyone, anyone who wants to fight him he’s ready,” interpreted Planter for the 24-year-old French-speaking Quebec native.
“We’re sure that Dave is going to get to the final. He respects every opponent and Dave is ready. He’s in the best shape of his life, he’s ready, you’ll see,” reiterated Planter.
Holmes thinks Leblond is good, but incapable of stopping him.
“He’s a good fighter, he’s all right, he can do his thing. But one of the things is he’s never fought a guy like me,” he said.
“I’m going to win and I think it’ll open other opportunities for me to get other fights, as well. That’s why this Contender means so much for me because when I win it’s going to put me out there more. Kemahl Russell did it, Sakima did it,” Holmes added, pointing to Wray & Nephew Contender champions who have moved into boxing’s mainstream.
Another plus is a multi-fight contract in Canada, to which Holmes attested.
“Winning this series you’ve a three-fight contract, so I know that if I win I have those three fights. I have even got an offer to go to the US and fight, so winning the Contender would mean so much,” he said.
“I’m really focused, I’m really confident in myself, confident in my skills, confident in my team, confident in my sponsors Life Fitness and New Era Fencing, so I’m very confident. I’ve to just go out there and win and achieve what I want to achieve.”
The second semi-final takes place next week Wednesday with the impressive Donovan “Concrete” Moncriffe battling the exciting 20-year-old Ricardo “Magic Man” Salas. The final is slated for Wednesday, July 18.
The winner will, in addition to the title and belt, take home a purse of $2 million. The second-place boxer will earn $500,000, third $250,000 and fourth $200,000.