World titles still on “Candy Man’s” mind

By Avenash Ramzan

Despite suffering his maiden loss in an otherwise unblemished career, USA-based Guyanese pugilist Simeon “Candy Man” Hardy still has his mind set on donning a world title belt around his waist.

Hardy, who has developed a reputation of being a knockout specialist, suffered the first defeat of his young career in February 2015 when American Vito Gasparyan walked away with a Unanimous Decision win.

“My plan is to achieve the same goals I’ve been dreaming about since a boy or since I’ve turned pro- World championships titles,” Hardy told News Room during an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

“For the last 15 months I’ve been inactive from the ring yes, but that’s just a pit stop. I’ve been training and perfecting my craft.”

Currently, Hardy’s record stands at 13 wins, 10 by way of knockout, and a solitary defeat. While the loss has been a setback, there were positives that Hardy took away from the contest.

“Losing for me was more of a physical challenge than physiological. I’m not a sore loser; I lost a fight, but not my passion or drive for this. Losing at this stage taught me a vital lesson of life outside the ring that an actual physical fight,” Hardy explained.

He continued, “Before I set foot into the ring my health must be either 100 percent or very close to that. Unlike my last fight, I went into that with several injuries which I should have paid attention too before making career decisions. I’m healthy now and surely ready to head directly to the top as promised…no more pit stops.”

When the 29-year-old Hardy left Guyana in December 2012, he had already racked up an impressive 10-0 record, his last win being against the much heralded Howard “Battersea Bomber” Eastman.

Quizzed whether his plans have worked out since migrating, Hardy responded, “Definitely I migrated with intent to pursue these goals [winning world titles] and nothing will ever go as planned, but we make adjustments in life and overcome adversities. Excuses are useless…that’s who I am…I define resilience.”

Since his arrival in the US, Hardy had chalked up consecutive knockout wins over Chad Greenleaf, Rahman Mustafa Yusubov and Malcolm Terry before the defeat to Gasparyan.