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Expect exciting Contender series - Kiffin-Green

Published:Friday | March 30, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Wray and Nephew’s marketing manager Nadia Kiffin-Green (left) joins Sports Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange (second left), boxer Sakima Mullings (second right) and Wray and Nephew’s Pavel Smith (right) in congratulating Jamaica’s Kemahl ‘The Hitman’ Russell after he successfully defended his North American Boxing Federation junior middleweight belt at the National Arena, recently. The title fight served as part of the launch for the Wray and Nephew Contender Season 8 boxing series.

With less than a week remaining before boxers start slinging it out in Season 8 of the Wray and Nephew Contender Series, there is anticipation of keen clashes between Jamaica's best and their Canadian counterparts for the big title.

"Expect exciting and intense fights. Wray & Nephew Contender is back," noted Nadia Kiffin-Green, Wray and Nephew's Marketing Manager.

"For Season 8, Wray & Nephew Contender will feature Jamaica vs Canada, eight of our strongest vs eight Canadians."

The made-for-TV event features live bouts on TVJ in a knockout series that eliminates one fighter each week.

Jamaica's fight crew will be led by the trio of Contender favourites 'Richard 'Frog' Holmes, Devon 'Concrete' Moncrief, and Ramel 'Sub-Zero' Lewis.

The list is completed by Michael Gardener, Toriano Nicholas, Fabian Tucker, Nico Yeyo, and Sceantonie Johnson, who will be making his professional debut.

It was during last year's Wray Rum series that Yeyo made his professional debut.

Dave Leblond, who made his debut in the Contender Series last year, heads the Canadian outfit.

Leblond created a stir and appeared to have earned some respect for his boxing skills among the Jamaican crowd as it booed the judges' decision after he had suffered a split-decision loss against Tsesti Davis in his opening bout.

Leblond was given a second chance after his countryman, Ryan Wagner, pulled out and made full use by defeating Yeyo. He eventually succumbed in the quarter-finals against his hard-hitting countryman, Phil Rose, who made it all the way to the final, where he was worn down by Sakima 'Mr Smooth' Mullings.

For Season 8, Leblond will have Ricardo Salas, Waseem El Sinawi, Jeff Tabrizi, Mayron Zeferino, Jay Kelly, Lloyd Reyes, and Daniel Roach as Canadian teammates. Reyes and Roach will be making their professional debut, with the former facing the aggressive Holmes in Season 8's opening bout next Wednesday at the Chinese Benevolent Association on Old Hope Road.

The matchups to follow are Mayron vs Yeyo (April 11), El Sinawi vs Lewis (April 18), Moncrief vs Roach (April 25), Kelly vs Gardener (May 2), Leblond vs Nicholas (May 9), Salas vs Johnson (May 16), and Tabrozi vs Tucker (May 23).