After previously declaring him the worst Sport Minister ever in Trinidad and Tobago’s history, boxing promoter/match-maker Boxu Potts now has a new best friend in Gary Hunt.

’This is my goodly Minister, he has always been there for us,’ Potts said of Hunt after Friday night’s fight between Trinidad and Tobago world champion Jizelle Salandy and challenger Yahaira Hernandez at the Jean Pierre Complex.

’And from tonight he is going to be my best friend--the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs. He’s part of our team now. He has come aboard in a big way and he has given us almost 50 per cent support for the fight and we’re looking forward to his continued support. Next time Minister I want 60 per cent, eh,’ Potts declared.

Hunt replied: ’For Jizelle, yes.’

Potts was referring to the $150,000 which the Sport Ministry had put into the fight, in addition to $102,000 donated by Gender Affair Minister Marlene McDonald.

Potts could be commended for putting on a good show on Friday, combining cultural events, local entertainment and boxing. He had the venue looking in top condition and the card ran more on time than in the past.

However, it seemed like a conflict of interest when, as promoter and also the main man behind Salandy, Potts got into the centre of the ring, took the microphone and thanked several people for Salandy’s ’anticipated victory’ long before the judges had declared a decision. The charade showed a thorough lack of professionalism. Stunned opponent Hernandez left the ring after possibly realising that the cards were dealt against her and she had little part in the final outcome. Though there was no doubt that Salandy had won, to the neutrals Potts’s actions made it appear the results were ’cooked’ long before the fighters got into the ring.

Eventually, Potts seemed to gather himself and said: ’I don’t want to pre-empt anything. We will allow the judges to do their job...we will allow them to present the scorecard.’

But, the damage had already been done. -Ian Prescott