Beefed-up Starie faces tough test
BOXING: EAST meets the Wild West when Suffolk's David Starie takes on Argentina's Bruno Godoy at Carnival City, South Africa tonight, writes David Vincent.
BOXING: East meets the Wild West when Suffolk's David Starie takes on Argentina's Bruno Godoy at Carnival City, South Africa tonight, writes David Vincent.
Yesterday, at the weigh-in, Starie had a slight weight advantage over Godoy, a former cattle worker from the Argentine Pampas – cowboy country.
Even though it is not a title fight, the eight-rounder is a crucial one for Starie, coming so close to a potential new super middleweight world title chance.
It was in January last year that Starie failed to dethrone Joe Calzaghe in a title challenge at Manchester.
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But he has revived his career, remained a top 10 challenger, and is now only a couple of fights away from another world clash.
And he also has a new three-year promotional deal with Golden Fists, the UK arm of the South African-based Golden Gloves operation, which could prove crucial as they try to build up their own roster of British-based champions.
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Tonight's contest is a supporting feature on the world title bill at Carnival City, Brakpan, Johannesburg, in which Phillip Ndou and Carlos Rios meet for the vacant WBU super-featherweight title.
Also on the bill are Silence Mabuza v Johannes Maisa in a WBU bantamweight title eliminator and Stephen Carr v Angel Vera.
Starie's manager/trainer Gordon Holmes, speaking from the South African hotel yesterday, said: "David is in really good shape. He has worked hard and now it is a question of resting up before the fight. We'll probably just have a gentle walk today and relax at the hotel.
"On Sunday we went to the game reserve and saw elephants, rhino and zebra. It was a great experience."
There had been tremendous interest in Starie from the ex-pat British community, added Holmes.
"This is a world championship bill so there is plenty of coverage, it is a big thing for them. It is being shown live here.
"We are expecting a tough fight because Godoy is a very rugged fighter with a good record."
Godoy has had 63 fights with 39 wins, 17 defeats and seven draws.
In contrast Starie is a relative beginner with just 25 fights, though only two defeats.
Starie's next projected fight is a British and Commonwealth title defence, in September, against Neil Linford from Peterborough.
If all goes well his next appearance could be for a world title.
