Wednesday, December 9 2009

THE highly anticipated re-match between Trinidad and Tobago’s Ria Ramnarine and Ana Fernandez on Boxing Day has been cancelled.

Promoter Boxu Potts made the revelation yesterday at a press conference, explaining that the Venezuelan conferred to his team that she would not come to Trinidad unless the Fede-Latin title was on the line.

Ramnarine defeated Fernandez by a split-decision in July this year, causing a huge uproar locally and internationally due to the perception that the Venezuelan had clearly done enough to win the bout.

Many had been eagerly awaiting the re-match to put all doubts to rest but will now have to wait even longer to see the pair enter the ring again.

Potts revealed, however, that the December 26 card will go along despite Fernandez’ absence.

Ramnarine will now fight 20-year-old Colombian Paulina Cardona whose record stands at 14 wins and six defeats and four draws.

He dismissed the idea that the change of opponent would have any effect on Ramnarine or disrupt her training.

“Ria is ready to fight anybody we put before her,” he boasted, “this happens all the time all over the world. Fighters pull out at the last minute,” he added.

Potts argued that despite the interest in the Ria versus Fernandez bout, she will not put the Fede-Latin belt on the line when she is in line for a world title fight next year.

Potts revealed that he is being pressured by the WBA to let Ramnarine enter her world title fight with Japanese Etsuko Tada immediately and skip the warm-up fight.

The Japanese fighter took just five professional bouts to win the WBA belt and boasts an unbeaten record in seven fights.

He stated that he wants the warm-up fight with Cardona on Boxing Day but if the WBA persists they are willing to fight the Japanese in Trinidad on the same day instead.

Potts also spoke on the state of boxing in TT and painted a gloomy picture.

He noted that boxing is in dire straits locally and stated that there is a mafia trying to destroy the sport.

“Boxing needs a Godfather. I am going to make myself the Godfather. Too much hard work has been put in. A lot of people are trying to destroy the model that produced world champions such as Giselle Salandy,” he claimed.

He revealed that The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs refused to waive the rental cost for use of the Central Regional Sport Arena for the December 26 fight despite the fee being waived in the past for fighters such as Salandy and Kirt Sinnette.

He labelled this as victimisation, as many feel that Ramnarine is not good enough to win a world title.

Potts pointed out, however, that all world champions were not born that way and through fighting and preparation developed into the finished product.