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THE LONG awaited rematch between Trinidad and Tobago’s Ria Ramnarine and Venezuela’s Anna Fernandez is soon to be a reality.
Yesterday Ramnarine’s manager and match-maker Boxu Potts confirmed that an offer has been made to Fernandez to compete for the 108lbs WIBA World Title which is currently available.
Attempts are also being made to get the WBA, WBC and WBO bodies to come on board for the fight, expected to take place within three months.
Potts, at a press conference at the Sweet Lime Restaurant, Woodbrook said offers were made to Fernandez for a rematch of their controversial contest at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Chaguanas last year which ended in a win for Ramnarine.
He said the Venezuelan has refused to face Ramnarine for a world title. However yesterday he sent a stern message for Fernandez: “You are getting what you want, come and face Ramnarine.”
And he made it clear that there will not be a re-occurrence of the problems he faced with Ramnarine’s last encounter with Japan’s Etsuko Tada at the Jean Pierre Complex at Mucurapo last Saturday.
Potts who handed over the promotions responsibilities of the Unified Boxing Promotions to his son Giovanni, revealed that he is willing to write to the Prime Minister, Attorney General and whoever else he has to, to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board (TTBB) members do not interfere with his cards in the future.
Yesterday Ramnarine, sporting a arm-brace since the controversial majority drawn decision with Tada said she will be ready for the rematch with Fernandez.
Ramnarine thanked her sponsors Ma Pau, the ministry of Sport and youth Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism, her handlers, fans and family for all the support they gave her leading up to the Tada fight.
She said she does not want to be judged anymore by her performance against Fernandez.
“Nobody ever seemed to realise that I fought other people after Anna. I fought a girl by the name of Paulina Cardosa but everybody has been judging me on the Anna Fernandez bout,” Ramnarine said.
Potts meanwhile is calling on Fernandez to finally settle the score between them for once and for all. He described Ramnarine as an improving fighter who is yet to produce her best performance in the ring.
The offer comes on the heels of another call by Potts for a rematch between Ramnarine and Etsuko Tada. He said he will attempt to negotiate the rematch on a purse-bid as he believed that his fighter had clearly won last Saturday’s WBA and WBC Minimum Weight World Title fight.
At the briefing Potts also highlighted his displeasure that boxing board chairman Brian Lewis has not yet released funds given to United promoters by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.
He said his son Giovanni is unable to receive a credit rating because Lewis and his board have refused to hand over the cash for the promoters to handle their end of the business
Potts noted that Lewis and the boxing board have instead agreed to pay the bills for Potts and his son. Attempts to reach Lewis proved futile yesterday.
