Rivas, Perozzi fight for WBA middleweight title
Teresa Perozzi has a birthday wish, but Lorissa Rivas wants to give her a birthday beating.
Bermudian resident Perozzi turns 39 tomorrow and will be hoping for an early birthday gift when she takes on Rivas, a 29-year-old Las Vegas-born fighter with Trinidad and Tobago roots, in the feature fight of tonight's Tobago Dark Warriors card, which takes place from 7 p.m. at the Woodbrook Youth Facility.
As with many of the heavier weight classes in women's boxing, the middleweight division is very weak. Rivas and Perozzi will fight for the vacant WBA world title. The fight is also an elimination bout for a later shot at the WBC middleweight world title, which was won by American Tori Nelson (5-0) who beat Rivas for it on July 29 at the Jean Pierre Complex, Port of Spain.
It will be the second visit to T&T for Perozzi, who beat up on Scroller Carrington in 2005 for the nondescript WIBC middleweight title. Rivas has contested her last four bouts in Trinidad.
Tonight's action will see an additional four professional fights, while USA-born amateur and T&T Olympic hopeful Lawrence Singh will be officially introduced to the Trinidad and Tobago public.
In July, Washington-based light-flyweight Singh lost his final chance to make the USA Olympic team when easily eliminated 28-12 by Erros Correa of San Jose, California at the semi-final stage of the Last Chance Qualifier tournament.
Sixteen-year-old Singh is an honour roll student and has a Trinidadian mother and Guyanese father. He fights 18-year-old Guyana amateur sensation Imran "Magic" Khan, who recently collected a bronze medal at a Venezuelan tournament. It should be a very good fight.
Also on the card is big Tobago heavyweight Kertson Manswell (22-3), who unfortunately faces another "soft" opponent. Manswell will be looking for his second win over Mitchell Rogers (6-3), having knocked out the 31-year-old Guyanese in one round six years ago.
Unbeaten T&T welterweight Kevon Diaz (3-0) also has a rematch against Barbados' John Henry (2-1-1).
Diaz was making his debut two years ago when stopping Henry in four rounds, but the Bajan is since unbeaten in three fights.
Lightweight Prince-Lee Isidore (T&T) (3-1-1) should continue his progress against Guyanese Shawn Pile (3-5), while there is another very interesting women's fight between two-time former Pan Am amateur bronze medallist Jamilla Jones and Tiana Sosa-Saney, a former Caribbean amateur champ.
The latter is further along in her career, having won all her three pro fights, but Jones, who recently won her debut bout, is expected to be a very formidable opponent.
Tobago Dark Warriors Boxing Card
Today–Fight time: 7 p.m.
Venue–Woodbrook Youth Facility
Admission--$60
Title fights
WBA middleweight world title/WBC silver elimination fight
Lorissa Rivas (T&T/USA) (4-2-0) vs Teresa Perrozzi (BERMUDA/USA) (7-4-1)
Non-title fights
Heavyweight--Kertson Manswell (T&T) (22-3) vs Mitchell Rogers (Guy) (6-3)
Lightweight--Prince-Lee Isidore (T&T) (3-1-1) vs Shawn Pile (Guy) (3-5)
Welterweight--Kevon Diaz (T&T) (3-0) vs Johnny Henry (Bar) (2-1-1)
Bantamweight--Jamilla Jones (1-0) vs Tiana Sosa Saney (3-0)
Amateurs
Light flyweight (108 lbs)--Lawrence Singh (USA/T&T) vs Amir Khan (Guyana).
By Ian Prescott
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com