Azore suffers ‘power failure’

– Fails the ‘Chin Checker’ test employed by the ‘Candy Man’

By Avenash Ramzan

While most of Guyana’s coast endured a massive power failure last

Friday night, Trinidad and Tobago- based Guyanese boxer Iwan ‘Pure Gold’ Azore suffered one of his own when a powerful leftright combination to the head from new CABOFE Welterweight champion, Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy, rendered him unconscious at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The fight was the main attraction on the 20th edition of Guyana Friday Night Fight, and the two boxers, Hardy in particular, who was clearly the crowd favourite, did not disappoint the sprinkling of spectators, who had gathered to witness the first card of 2012.

The encounter ended two minutes, 25 seconds (02:25s) into round nine of the scheduled 12 with Hardy’s patented ‘Chin Checker’ leaving Azore a sprawled and cataleptic figure.

To Azore’s credit, he did try to get back on his feet, but it was an exercise in futility, demonstrating the power of the punch (Chin Checker), which Hardy has branded and used with effectiveness in every fight.

The win has maintained Hardy’s enviable unbeaten record, which now stands at 7- 0 with six coming by way of knockout.

Judging from the tactics employed by the pugilists from the opening bell, it was clear that Hardy was looking for a knockout, while Azore was content on going the distance.

The taller Hardy started aggressively, forcing a nimble Azore on the defensive.

Although Azore managed to land a few telling blows, he was given a real taste of the ‘Chin Checker’ in the dying minutes of round four.

He fell to the canvas, against the backdrop of a huge roar from the crowd, but managed to get on his feet only to be saved by the bell from another onslaught from his opponent.

In the ensuing rounds, Azore seemed to have fully recovered from the blow and was making better use of the ring, forcing Hardy to the ropes on a few occasions.

At the end of round eight, broadcaster Basil Bradshaw announced that Hardy was leading on all three judges’ card 79-72, 78-73, 79-72.

However, Hardy apparently wasn’t too keen on letting the judges dictate the outcome. He brought out the ‘Chin Checker’ when Azore least expected it, leaving his opponent motionless on the canvas.

While the ringside medical team tended to Azore, the new champion was engulfed by adoring fans who, apart from offering congratulations, took the opportunity to snap a few photos with the man who, if properly managed and coached, could become the next big thing in Guyana’s boxing.

“I worked really, really hard for this fight; everyone was behind me, people were coming in the gym while I was training, they were calling me ‘hey wake up, you gotta go and train’,” Hardy said after the fight. “Azore was a tough guy, the toughest guy I’ve faced. I know I had him in round four, but after throwing some heavy combinations he was still there holding on. I thought he would have stayed in his corner, but he came out back and punched his heart out.” Hardy dedicated the win to his father and his son, who both celebrated their birth anniversaries this weekend.

The 25-year-old will now turn his attention to the WBC tournament, which gets underway on May 1, and will see the overall winner of each weight division, carting off a US$ 250,000 prize in a contest that is scheduled to last for 40 weeks and will see each fighter in action at least four times.

Also recording victories on the professional segment of the card were Mark Austin over Jermin King; Mitchell Rogers over Anthony Augustin and Edmond De Clou over James Walcott.