By Rawle Toney
(Kaieteur News) – Six months after etching his name into Guyana’s boxing history, Elton Dharry is ready to embark on another chapter of his career, and he has already accepted a challenge from Italy’s Alessio Lorusso for his International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Super Bantamweight world title.
Dharry captured the vacant IBO Super Bantamweight crown on April 25 this year, producing a dominant performance against Tanzania’s Salim Kassim at the Pegasus Corporate Suites, now Atlantic Suites, to become the first Guyanese male boxer to fight for and win a world title on home soil.
Elton Dharry, IBO Super Bantamweight world Champion.
Now, with his name firmly established among Guyana’s world champions, the 40-year-old Dharry is looking to defend the belt and continue building his legacy in the 122-pound division.
“I want to defend my title,” Dharry told Kaieteur News, adding that he hopes his first defence can take place in Guyana.
According to Dharry, he has accepted a challenge from 30-year-old Lorusso, who currently holds the IBO Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight title.
The IBO rankings list Lorusso as Dharry’s immediate contender, setting up a potential clash between the reigning world champion and the Italian challenger.
Lorusso has compiled a professional record of 33 wins, including 10 by knockout, five losses and two draws from 40 bouts.
However, while the two camps have begun discussions, Dharry said no date has yet been finalised.
For Dharry, the potential bout represents more than simply another title defence. With his career entering its latter stages, the veteran boxer is determined to use the time he has left to test himself against the best available opposition and further cement his standing in the division.
Italy’s Alessio Lorusso has challenged Elton Dharry for his IBO World Title.
The Guyanese, who owns a professional record of 31 wins, six losses and one draw, said he has never subscribed to avoiding difficult opponents, a philosophy he intends to maintain as champion.
“I don’t believe in ducking a fighter, because I remember my days of even being in other fighter’s emails and DM’s asking for a fight, so for me, he wants to fight, and we work out the terms, and we make it happen. Hopefully I can make that fight happen in Guyana, soon,” a typically candid Dharry said.
Dharry’s journey to the IBO world title was built over years of persistence, including periods when opportunities at the highest level were difficult to secure.
Having finally achieved his long-held ambition of becoming a world champion, he is now focused on what comes next.
At 40, Dharry acknowledges that his time in the ring is limited, but rather than looking beyond boxing, he remains intent on making the most of his championship reign.
His immediate objective is a successful first defence. Beyond that, Dharry wants to establish himself among the leading fighters in the world at Super Bantamweight before eventually walking away from the sport.
Source: Kaieteur News
