By Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter
Earl "Boom Boom" Foskin (left) trades punches with trainer Fitzroy Guisseppi during a sparring session at the Stanley Couch Gym in Kingston yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
"RIPE AS a cherry" was the analogy Earl "Boom Boom" Foskin used to describe his readiness for his upcoming Commonwealth welterweight fight with Britain's Julian Holland in England next month.
Foskin engaged in a sparring session with a number of the island's top amateur boxers and professional fighters at the Stanley Couch Gym in Kingston yesterday where he is preparing for the event.
"This is a really big opportunity for me. I've been waiting my whole life for something like this," the 33-year-old Jamaican fighter said after a 45-minute romp with his colleagues.
"I'm ripe like a cherry. I'm very ready for this. This session today was just to show the fans what I can do and so far I'm satisfied with the work I've done," added Foskin who has lost only one fight in his 16-year boxing career.
The fight was to be held on November 9 but was postponed as Dutch-born Holland has reportedly been affected with a bout of influenza. The new date is November 30 at the Antrim Leisure Centre in Lancashire.
Foskin last fought on a dinner boxing card in Kingston where he out-pointed Alberto Martez in a six-round contest.
Among those with whom he sparred yesterday were Delroy Henderson, Ian "Haggler" Smith, Muhammad Dawes and Patrick Findlayson.
Having no idea of what to expect from Holland and not wanting to be caught off-guard with his opponent's style of fighting, Dawes and Findlayson, both southpaws, provided good competition for right-handed Foskin.
Said trainer Fitzroy Guisseppi: "We don't know anything about the other fighter so we are making as much preparation as we can and practising with different styles. Boom Boom is in good shape, his punches are sharp so we can expect nothing less than an excellent showing from him."
The postponement, Guisseppi said, would prove beneficial to Foskin.
"He stood a good chance at winning with the first date but it would have been rough. I'm glad that it was pushed back because it has given him more time to prepare. With this time he can do more roadwork. I don't want to push him or pressure him too much," he said.
According to former Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC) president Keith Brown, who is chairman of the local professional development committee, the winner of this fight may get a shot at either the International Boxing Organisation or International Boxing Federation world titles.
