Saturday July 24: At the Flamingo, Laughlin, Joshua Clottey,Ghana , vs. Christopher Henry, Barbados, 10, welterweights
Shaka? gets shot at US boxing crown
by Barry Alleyne -- The latest mission for Barbados? self-proclaimed ?Man of Steel? will take him through the deserts of Nevada.
Barbados? top boxer Christopher ?Shaka? Henry will face probably his most worthy opponent yet, when he fights Joshua Clottey of Ghana tomorrow night at the Flamengo Hotel in Nevada, United States.
Henry has always wanted a shot at the World Boxing Council?s (WBC) welterweight crown, and an impressive victory over Clottey could push him to No. 5 in the rankings.
Tomorrow?s clash, which will be carried live on television by two Nevada stations, will earn the winner the North American Boxing Council?s welterweight crown.
Clottey is a 25-year-old with an impressive record of 25-1 since turning pro. He was raised in Ghana but has been based in the United States the past few years.
The clash between Henry and Clottey is the main fight of a six-bout card.
For the past two weeks, Henry has been in Nevada for acclimatisation, and has been working at the Top Rank Gym in Laughlin, Nevada, with former lightweight world champion Roger Mayweather.
He put in his final training session on Wednesday before today?s weigh-in, sparring for more than 80 rounds under Mayweather?s watchful eye.
?This is a perfect opportunity for ?Shaka? to plant himself on the world scene and show just how good he is,? promoter Sam Layne told WEEKENDSPORT yesterday.
?He is currently [rated] No. 7 by the WBC, and if he wins, he would go up to No. 5, which could earn him a fight against the No. 3-rated boxer in the welterweight division. If he can win both fights, then a match against champ Miguel Gonsalves of Mexico is definitely a reality,? Layne said.
Clottey is ranked No. 9 by the World Boxing Council, but his record is better than Henry?s, who boasts 17 wins, 12 of them by knockout, and eight losses.
Meanwhile, Barbados? next best boxer, ?Marvellous? Marcus Trotman, has signed a promotional contract to fight in Puerto Rico and the United States, starting within a couple of months.
