Michael Gardener, one of Jamaica's top-seeded boxers, will make his debut in this season's Wray and Nephew Contender Series tonight, when he clashes with Canadian Jason Kelly over five rounds at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium at 9:30 p.m. There will also be two amateur bouts, starting at 8:30 p.m., and the main bout will be broadcast on TVJ.

Gardener's camp was oozing confidence yesterday, and his trainer Castro Brown told The Gleaner that "Michael is in the best condition of his life. He has trained hard for six weeks, has done 280 rounds of sparring and run hundreds of miles. He is ready to go all the way, starting tonight." Gardener goes into the ring with a 7-2 win-loss record.

His opponent, Kelly, who has a record of one win, four losses and a draw, was more subdued. He declared that he is ready for combat and expects a hard fight. "I hear that he is fast and hits hard, and I will be prepared for this. I am going in there to win," he declared.

Gardener, who is 24 years old, will be making his second appearance in the competition. He reached the semi-finals in 2016, and lost then to the eventual winner of that series, American DeMarcus 'Chop Chop' Corley, on points. He was impressive then, and, with more experience, is highly favoured to take the title this year. He has good punching power, and this is seen as his best weapon, but he cannot afford to get careless trying for a knockout.

His opponent, Kelly, who is 34 years old and has been boxing as a professional for less than two years, has a spotty record. He has one victory and a draw in his six fights, but says that he has come ready to fight. He concedes that he is up against an opponent who is talented, but he is ready for the occasion and thinks that he has a good chance. "I am ready," he declared yesterday.