Contender Series returns tonight - Fit Tucker ready for Canada's Ismail

Wray & Nephew Contender boxing fans will flock to the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium on Old Hope Road tonight for the resumption of the popular boxing series that was sidelined last week because of an injury to Canadian boxer Jeff Tabrizi, who had to pull out of the competition.

Tabrizi's replacement for tonight's show is Tariq Ismail, and he will be going up against Jamaica's Fabian Tucker. Action will start at 8:30 with two amateur bouts, followed by the main event over five rounds at 9:30, which will be broadcast live on TVJ.

FINAL PRELIM BOUT

This will be the final bout in the eight-contest preliminary round of the competition. After this, the eight boxers remaining will do battle in the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals and finals, with the winner taking home the Contender title and $2 million, the runner-up $500,000, third place $250,000, and fourth place $200,000.

Ismail, who was 28 years old yesterday, was born in the Sudan, but has lived in Canada since he was five years old. He trains at a gym run by the Grant brothers, who have Jamaican ties, and his trainer is Ryan Grant, who also trains Mayron Zeferino, who lost in the first round of competition to Nico Yeyo.

Ismail told The Gleaner yesterday that he has been around Jamaicans in Canada for many years, and was elated when he received the invitation to join the series.

"This is a great opportunity for me, and I want to give myself a birthday present with a victory," he said further. "I am fit and ready, as I am always in the gym," he continued. He has done Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), kickboxing, and now conventional boxing. After a 14-0 amateur career, he switched to professional boxing recently, and has a 1-0 record. He said that he did not know much about Tucker, but has heard that he is a strong, aggressive fighter.

"I came to fight and that is what I am going to do, I want to win and make it to the finals," he added.

Tucker, who is 24 years old and has a draw and two losses in his career, said yesterday that he is "going for the win, as that is the only way to get to the title".

He also said that he has trained hard for several weeks, and is "fit and ready for anybody that they put before me. The postponement last week allowed me to get in some extra training, and I am anxious to get into the ring now," he added.

It should be an action-packed affair, with both boxers trying hard to move to the next round. Four Jamaicans and three Canadian boxers have already qualified for the next round.