7 News Belize

Guatemalan Boxers Arrive
posted (September 16, 2011)
Tomorrow millions of boxing fans around the world will be glued to their television sets to watch one of the year's biggest sporting events, the Mayweather/Ortiz fight.

In Belize, the hope is that some of that passion and interest for the sport will rub off here in the city, where an action packed night of boxing is scheduled at the Princess Hotel and Casino.

Local boxing promoter James Adderley says the six fights between Guatemala and Belize will offer the same.

Jim McFadzean
"How does the Belize team compare with the Guatemalan team in terms of experience and exposer?"

James Adderley, Boxing Promoter
"Obviously the Guatemalan team has a better foundation and they have access to a better structure but with Belize we are trying to build the sports, we have to start somewhere so this venture is to show us were we are and what we need to do, to get where we want to be."

Jim McFadzean
"Tomorrow there is this very important international event with, Mayweather and Ortiz. Are you planning on a date that is going to conflict with of the most important international event where most Belizeans are already psyched up for watching that event tomorrow?"

James Adderley, Boxing Promoter
"Let me just quickly say Mayweather and Ortiz are already there in terms of fame and fortune. We are at an amateur boxing level, our importance is to create the environment inside Belize, for us to move on and develop our program. I understand that a lot of boxing fans will want to see the big fight and we have structure it in a way that, if we start at 7pm sharp, we could be out of there by 9:15 and you could go on to the big fight, having seen what we have. Then you can make the comparison to see where we actually are."

Jorge Chaiyax, Pres. Boxing Federation of Peten
"We bring a small delegation, but we also have boxers even though young but with some experience that have participated at international level, for example we have a boxer from here Peten Mr. Martinez that won a bronze medal in an international match in Ecuador, so this was a big experience for us this is our biggest Guatemalan boxer."

Jim McFadzean
"How prepared is the Belize team tomorrow when they face this Guatemala team that the average Belizean fighter doesn't have any idea who they are coming up against tomorrow?"

Clinton Tucker, Boxing Trainer
"Well we are well prepared because we have been expecting fights from last December, and now the fight is way up in September, so we are well prepared for this fight. Although we have novelist that haven't fight before and we have fighters that have been fighting a long time, but don't know how the fight."

Jim McFadzean
"What does it mean for boxing in Belize?"

Clinton Tucker, Boxing Trainer
"Well, we need more international fights actually, we that, we need the exposer, you understand, we need more fights actually, we need more support, we need to pick up the sports to another level, because it's really poor in Belize. For instance these guys, they are fighting and it's on their own, no kind of sponsorship and things like that. A very few people come in and sponsor a little, but it's not much. So we need more support actually, that what it really means."

Jim McFadzean
"Give us the prediction for tomorrows out of the 6 fights. How is Belize going to fair at the end of the night?"

Clinton Tucker, Boxing Trainer
"I think we will be on top, with all of our fights I am going out there to take all 6 fights actually. With all the work we put off we are going out there to take the whole 6 fights."

The event takes place tomorrow at the Princess Hotel and Casino and gets underway at 7 P.M. - it should finish a little after 9:00 which will get you home in time to watch the Mayweather Fight.

Both the local and international bouts will be aired live here on Channel 7.


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