‘Six Heads’ injured, Mullings to fight Atwell instead

Jamaican welterweight champion, Sakima Mullings, is remaining focused despite having to contend with a brand new opponent when he flies to Guyana to defend his World Boxing Council (WBC)/Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) welterweight title on February 21 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown, Guyana.

Mullings, who won last year's Contender Series, will now face Clive Atwell, who is better known in Guyana as 'The Punisher', in the fight slated for 12 rounds.

The 32-year-old Mullings was down to fight former World Boxing Asociation (WBA) welterweight champion, Andrew 'Six Heads' Lewis, but the latter was forced to withdraw from the fight after suffering a hairline fracture to his collarbone during a sparring session on Sunday, reports from Guyana said

Eion Jardine, the matchmaker, told the Guyana Chronicle that the 44-year-old Lewis had suffered the injury while sparring with a boxer from French Guiana. He said the injury was confirmed by Guyana Boxing Board's Dr Max Hanoman, who said Lewis would be unable to box for about another two months.

According to the report, Lewis' manager, Keith Bazilio, does not want to risk his charge entering the ring with Mullings, who became the WBC's CABOFE welterweight champion in 2013 when he stopped Guyana and former European champion, Howard 'Battersea Bomber' Eastman.

Mullings said he is disappointed not to be fighting Lewis, but the show must go on.

unbeaten

"I was looking forward to fighting 'Six Heads', but everything happens for a reason," said Mullings, who is unbeaten against Guyanese fighters. "But I am glad that the organisers were able to quickly find a suitable replacement, so I will continue to prepare for the fight on February 21."

Notwithstanding Atwell's ominous moniker, Mullings believes beating the fighter - who has taken the fight on short notice - will be a nice feather in his cap.

"I am very familiar with Atwell. He is a very accomplished fighter, who fought Jhonny Gonzales for a world title last year. He lost, but he is a very good fighter who won a bronze medal in 2007 at the Pan Am Games. When I beat him it should help me with moving through the rankings so I am looking forward to this fight."

Also on the fight card that night will be a female super middleweight contest between Loretta Rivas of the USA and Sharon Warde of Guyana, over six rounds, while the opening fight will be between debutants Travis Fraser of Guyana and Charwin Estwick of Barbados in the middleweight division, over four rounds.