By WALTER ALIBEY Thursday, March 18 2010

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TRINIDAD AND Tobago heavyweight boxer Kertson Manswell, second from right, in Belgiumyesterday with boxing officials, from left, Boxu Potts (promoter/...

TRINIDAD and Tobago heavyweight Boxing champion Kertson Manswell will no longer fight against German Werner Kreiskott in an elimination bout tomorrow.

At a press conference held yesterday in Brussels, Belgium, it was announced that an injury has forced the 31-year-old German out of the contest.

However it was revealed that the Tobago-born Manswell will instead take on Tomas Mrazek of the Czech Republic in the semi-feature bout of the Pro Am card.

The card will take place at the Lotto Arena in Antwerpen on Friday, March 19 in the Belgian capital city. Also on the card in an elimination bout is Sugar Jackson against Randall Bailey.

Like Kreiskott, the Czech will be eager to enter the ring to attempt to improve his unimpressive record. Mrazek, a 29-year-old orthodox fighter has won just four times in his 34 fights with 25 losses.

Mrazek has been knocked out ten times and has three knock-out wins to his name. In addition he has five drawn bouts in his struggling career.

Already well loved by the Belgian public, Manswell said after the press briefing yesterday that he is ready to punish any boxer that comes up against him. And a win tomorrow will position him nicely for a world title shot in the near future.

Manswell who last defeated American Dennis Mc Kinney to push his record to 19/0 recently in Mexico said he was confident of a victory against Mrazek.

Promoter and match-maker Boxu Potts has promised to take the 250-pounder to a heavyweight world title which no TT boxer has won.

Potts told Newsday yesterday from Brussels that after Manswell’s victory tomorrow, he will look at two or three more fights before a world title crack.

Tomorrow’s bout will be televised live on European Television but Potts promised that a copy of the bout will be brought back home for local fans and supporters to see.

“Manswell has already accepted his new opponent because it has not done anything for his confidence in winning tomorrow,” Potts said from his hotel room.

Yesterday’s press briefing was attended by top international boxing promoters Don Majeski, Louis de Vries and Potts all of whom are collaborating to take Manswell to the top of the world in the heavyweight division.

Potts said he already has his eyes fixed on boxing brothers Vitaly and Vladimir Klitchko of the Ukraine.

He pointed out that his bout is being held on a Pro Am card and he wants all in Trinidad and Tobago to be aware, particularly president of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board (TTBB) Brian Lewis and his members, as well as president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ABATT) Cecil Forde.

Potts is advising them to take heed of what is happening there in Belgium, as he continues to lobby to have similar Pro Am cards in TT.

He also lashed out at the new policy by the boxing board, explaining that it allows promoters to receive up to 25 percent of their budgets, and will be a hindrance to the development of the sport.

He said his model, which has produced international champions Giselle Salandy and now Ria Ramnarine, cannot be stunted by withholding Government resources.