Leroy Brown, STAR Writer

Sakima Mullings

Sakima Mullings, the boxer who supporters believe will be the Wray and Nephew Contender at the end of the series, will seek a semi-final place tonight, when he goes up against Martin Anderson at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium. He starts as the overwhelming favourite to win, and Anderson will have his work cut out to last the scheduled six rounds.

Two amateur bouts will also be on the card, which starts at 8.45 p.m. and will be telecast on TVJ at 9.30. In the first bout, super heavyweight Jamaro Nooks from Bruising gym and Dukey Rowe from Stanley Couch will trade punches, while in the second, Camion Goldson his teammate, will be challenged by Bruising's Michael Gardener in a return contest.

Public interest in the series, which is sanctioned by the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control, promoted by MJK Productions and sponsored by J. Wray and Nephew, Claro, TVJ and Foska Oats, has increased each week, and in many minds, Mullings moving into the semi-finals is a foregone conclusion.

power punches

He is definitely one of the best boxers in the competition, and also has an array of power punches that can take out any opponent. In his first fight in the series, he scored a dramatic fifth-round technical knockout (TKO) victory over tough Glenroy 'Bumpy' Beckford. After four very competitive rounds, he unleashed a barrage of punches on Beckford in the fifth, which spurred Beckford's corner to throw in the towel.

Anderson is an average fighter, without much artillery. He won his first fight with a second-round TKO victory over Raymond Gordon, who could not continue after an eye injury. Tonight, however, he will have his hands full trying to keep Mullings at bay, and although his trainer Andrew Boland was confident yesterday that he "will take care of himself", it will be a tall order.

Barring something unforeseen, therefore, Mullings should join Tsetsi Davis, Devon Moncrieffe and Rikardo Smith in the semi-finals, and then continue the hunt for the main prize of $1 million. The second-place contestant will earn $500,000, third $250,000 and fourth $200,000.