Powell poised to extend ring success

The Wray and Nephew Contender boxing series' preliminary round was scheduled to end tonight with a fight that had all the ingredients for a classic battle between two experienced welterweights, Daniel Powell (11-0) and Miguel Antoine (17-4-1).

However, a last-minute pullout by Antoine has changed the equation, as his replacement, Charwin Estwick, has a record of no wins and two losses.

Powell and Estwick will fight for the final place in the quarter-finals tonight at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium, starting at 9:30.

Powell, whose father is Jamaican and flaunts his Jamaican roots, is 31 years old and has been a professional boxer since February 4, 2012. He has won eight fights by technical knockout, one by knockout and two on decision, but has not really met a quality opponent.

Tonight is not going to be much different. Estwick, who is 38, was on the Contender roster last year and clashed with Richard Holmes on April 22. That fight went the distance, with one judge giving all six rounds to Holmes and the other two giving Estwick two rounds.

Guyanese Estwick, who lives in Barbados, has not had a fight since then, while Powell had his last fight in June last year, so both men have been inactive recently.

DEFENSIVE SKILLS

Estwick showed in his fight here last year that he has good defensive skills. Against Holmes, who was trying for a knockout from the first round, he managed to tie up his opponent, shortened his range and made it difficult for him to land a knockout punch.

It could turn out to be an interesting fight, with Powell trying for a knockout and Estwick using his defensive skills to frustrate his opponent.

The winner tonight will join previous winners Holmes, Demarcus Coley, Tsetsi Davis, Revlon Lake, Michael Gardener, Ramel Lewis and Rashid Stevens in the quarter-finals. Four boxers will be seeded and they will draw their opponents for the next round.

The winner of the series will, in addition to the title and belt, take home $2 million, the runner-up $500,000, third $250,000 and fourth $200,000.

The fight will be broadcast live on TVJ.