‘Mystery Lady’ confident of lifting world title on November 24

– Down to brass tacks and whipping herself into shape

By Avenash Ramzan

With just under three weeks to go before her world title fight against Mexican Zulina Munoz, Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred has intensified her preparation for the bout, which will be held in Mexico City.
The duo will clash for the vacant WBC super flyweight title on November 24, and Alfred, the reigning WIBA bantamweight champion, is putting in the requisite training at the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) gym in Albouystown to whip herself into top shape for the contest.
The fight will end a two-year hiatus for the 30-year-old Alfred, whose last outing in the ring was on November 6, 2010, when she won on points against Colombia’s Olga Julio at the Princess Hotel and Casino, Providence.
On the other hand, the 25-year-old Munoz last fought on September 29 – her third fight of this year – and emerged with a ninth round TKO over Uruguay’s Gabriela Bouvier in Mexico.
She has an impressive record of 35 wins (24 knockouts), one defeat and two draws, while Alfred has notched up 13 wins (four knockouts) and five losses in 18 fights.
Alfred said she has intensified her training, with the assistance of a conditioning coach to help her deal with the high-altitude condition in Mexico.
“Right now we’re doing different things, trying to get in shape for the high altitude condition. We recently hired a new conditioning coach and we’re focused right now on training three times a day. The preparation is really, really hard, because I have to lose a lot of weight. Right now I’m coming down from 128 to 115,” Alfred explained.
Alfred admitted that she knows very little about her opponent, but that doesn’t deter her from being confident of emerging victorious, and adding another title to her collection.
“I don’t know much about her. I saw a clip on the internet and she’s a great fighter, but I’m a great fighter too. I’m going there to do my best, I always give my best. Regardless of where the fighter comes from, we are all human beings and both of us are aiming to come out successful, but it will boil down to who’s better on the night,” the diminutive boxer predicted.

Despite being out of the ring for two years, Alfred said this is not a hindrance, as she has been in such a situation before where she had to step out after a lengthy lay-off to fight for titles.
“Well I know my ability. I know I have the ability to fight a world title fight. I did it before and I can do it again. When I fought Corrine Van Wyk DeGroot, everybody said I couldn’t do it…I didn’t beat her once but twice. So I think I have the ability to do what I have to do. I have to prepare myself mentally and physically and I’m focusing right now on that fight, and that fight only,” Alfred pointed out.
Alfred is currently under the expert supervision of coach Sebert Blake, while former national boxer Joseph Murray, and current professional campaigners, Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy and Dexter ‘The Kid’ Marques, among others, are performing duties as her sparring partners.
Blake is confident his fighter will leave Mexico with the title, but said her “power” will have to play a crucial part in getting past the hometown girl Munoz.
“In this fight I will give Shondell an A for power. She has a good punch, and it’s just for us to sustain that throughout the fight, and being able to recover from what her opponent may have to offer,” Blake said.
“At this moment, I’m satisfied with the preparation, but like everything else, there is always room for improvement. Shondell is a very determined fighter and when she knows that there is something big out there for her, she would go the extra mile. I see good things coming for her.”
While Courts (Guyana) Inc. has thrown financial support behind Alfred in her preparation, the fighter has been using her own funding to ensure she is in top condition for the fight. With this is mind, Blake is urging corporate entities to come on board and assist the boxer, who is on the brink of bringing home another world title for Guyana.