International Boxing Promoter Returns to the US to give Lukas US rerun
Scott Patrick Farrell, the international boxing promoter from Botswana is scheduled to return to Las Vegas, USA along with the Namibian boxing title contender Sakaria “Desert Storm” Lukas this July to take on the American star, Jessie Magdaleno.
Farrell promotes three local prospecting boxers Kutlwano Ogaketse, Kabelo Bagwasi, and Kagiso Bagwasi. He said this week that marring all hype the bout featuring Desert “Storm Sakaria” Lukas was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Top Rank Boxing, a US-based boxing company, was considering rescheduling the postponed fight where Sakaria Lukas will take on the American contender and former world champion Jessie Magdaleno. However, imposed travel restrictions made it hard to be in June or July.
The fight between Lukas and Magdaleno was a landmark event for the Namibia native former Africa Champion and it was scheduled on March 14, 2020. Farrell has pledged to provide everything for the boxers once the structures improve.
But the organizers were forced to cancel the bout because of the unexpected invasion of the Covid-19 pandemic. Subsequently, Top Rank Boxing rescheduled Lukas to be in Las Vegas at the end of June for the fight. But the date remains to be confirmed.
The earlier postponement was like a dead-shock to Sakaria Lukas. If he could fight it as per the schedule, he would have been the first boxer from Namibia into the coveted boxing ring of the Hulu Theater, at the Madison Square Garden, New York.
The stage was all set for the bout on March 12, 2020. Fighters were preparing in full swing, the promoters marking hours for the action to star, and the media waiting like a hawk for live coverage.
But all these are of no avail as COVID-19 spread vigorously. All governments, across the world, were scared and banned all public gatherings.
However, Sakaria and his team were having a faint hope, banking on the communication from Top Rank Boxing, that the show would continue in the empty theater with no spectators. But shutting down of the New York the city by the Governor forced ultimate cancellation.
Top Rank’s assurance to reschedule the Desert Storm boxing bout is a real breather to Sakaria Lukas. The Global Boxing Stars that happens to be managing Lukas represents the boxing legend, Senator Manny Pacquiao.
They also have close connections and work with the international boxing matchmaker Sean Gibbons, the President of Manny Pacquiao MP promotions, and Peter Hoffman, the Director of the German Boxing brand ROOMAIF for several biggest boxing bouts. ROOMAIF is also officially sponsoring and endorsing Lukas. All of them are backing him and giving with all the assistance needed.
Expectedly, the long-awaited boxing bout is to take place in late July or early August 2020. But, the thought of its earlier cancellation still disturbs Lukas.
It is hard to forget the amount of preparation involved and the paramount hype it created. As chaos continued till March-end, there was no certainty about the formalities and procedures to be followed. The global ban on traveling further made rescheduling of the bout impossible.
Moreover, no authentic and reliable method for examining the contestants, before the bout, was available. All these dropped the curtain on Desert Storm and Lukas and his team had no way besides returning home.
There seems to be a silver lining in the cloud! Top Rank resumes its business and a boxing bout was held on June 9, 2020, in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand. It was held in a specially designed studio, partnering with ESPN, without any audience. Scott Patrick Farrell the CEO of Global Boxing Stars and manager of Lukas called this great news.
“I have already an offer for an alternative fight for July 17, 2020, against Ranfi Encarnacion. He is world number 7 and we are seriously considering this option.
However, we are also carefully examining the possibility of rescheduling the Magdaleno fight for August 2020. Sakaria Lukas is undefeated in his career and is currently ranked number 5 by IBF and stands at number 8 in the WBA”, Farrell further stated.
“All options are open and I will announce Lukas’s USA fight soon after careful consideration of every possibility. Magdaleno is the former WBC world champion in the Super bantamweight division. He has an impressive pro boxing career with one loss against the former world champion Isaac Dogboe in 2018.
However, appearing in featherweight division he has two consecutive wins. For this feat, he is now ranked number one in WBC and also became the mandatory contender for the world title.
Moreover, he has much exposure to the boxing world. He is also scheduled to appear on the Top Rank Studio Show fighting against Dominican opponent, Yenifel Vicente.
If Magdaleno wins this fight, he will move forward for a world title shot or an eliminator for the world title. This makes things different for Sakaria Lukas as he will fight the winner of Magdaleno versus Vicente bout.
Magdaleno is much known in the boxing world as he has won against several elite boxers of international repute. So, Lukas wants to have Magdaleno in the ring as winning the match will put him into the elite group of boxers.
“Fighting Magdaleno is my shot and I want this as soon as possible,” said Lukas. He further added that his manager Scott Farrell is working very hard with the Top Rank matchmaker for this fight. In case he has to take another route for his next fight he would do so. “But let it be recorded that I want the fight against Magdaleno that was snatched from me at the first opportunity” reiterated the jubilant boxer.
The boxing bout that was supposed to be held at the Madison Square in March this year could have been the first international boxing bout for Sakaria Lukas on American soil.
As his entire nation is looking for this, Lukas wants to fight the formidable Magdaleno. He will all go out to prove his mettle by winning the match for fulfilling his dream of wearing the crown of world champion.
(No Deccan Chronicle journalist was involved in creating this content.The group also takes no responsibility for this content.)
