The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHERMAN ‘The Tank’ Williams, who is still actively pursuing his professional boxing career, will be honoured by the Real Fun Entertainment Incorporated for his contribution to the development of amateur boxing in Melbourne, Florida.

Dubbed “The Battle of Novice,” the event will take place on Saturday, June 17 and Williams is encouraging the local boxing fraternity to travel to Florida to get some of their amateur boxers involved in the show.

Williams, a native of Grand Bahama now residing in Florida, will be honoured along with Antonio Tarver, former world light heavyweight champion and Winkie Wright, former world light middleweight champion.

Williams, who is gearing up for his next pro fight in June in New Zealand, said he’s delighted that he is being recognised for the role he’s playing as a coach with the Police Athletics League as a certified US coach.

“This past Saturday, I was honoured with two other fighters from Puerto Rico as legends and future legends in Port St Lucie, Florida,” Williams said. “I had about eight fighters who I train compete in the event and we got six victories.

“The next tournament is going to be held in Melbourne, Florida where they will be honouring me again. Hopefully we can get some of the amateur boxers from New Providence, Grand Bahama and Bimini to come over and participate because Melbourne, Florida is so close to the Bahamas.”

While he has heard so much talk about bringing boxing back in the country, Williams said this is one avenue for the amateur boxing federation to take a step in that direction as there are persons in Florida who are willing to assist the local amateur boxing programme.

“I tried two promotions in 2018 and 2019 with the same national pride to set the stage for our local fighters,” Williams said. “I think we need to do more of that, but most importantly focus on amateurs because if there’s no stable, there’s no future for professionals.”

Williams said he’s eager to assist any local fighter who wants to be a part of the show. He noted that the promoters will be willing to provide lodging for the boxers as they are doing for the boxers coming in from Puerto Rico, Mexico and the state of Florida.

“The remedy here is working as we’ve seen a turnaround in some of our drastic youth in Florida,” Williams said. “I think we’ve been doing things backward for too long and if there is anything I can do to help, by all means I am willing to do so.”

Journeyman Williams, with a 45-15-2 win-loss-draw record, remembered how he was treated to a motorcade in Key West, Florida, after he won the World Boxing Organisation’s Asian Pacific heavyweight title over Chauncy Welliver in 2012. Williams is currently a honorary citizen of Key West, Key Largo, Melbourne and Port St Lucie, Florida.

“So it’s an honour and privilege to be recognised in a country where I wasn’t born. I am happy that I can help some of these young boys to become young men and to help them to make their lives better by putting God first and making some life-changing decisions.”

Williams, however, said he’s disturbed by reading the national headlines in the Bahamas where so many young men are reportedly killing each other.

He noted that the murder rate in the Bahamas is at a higher percentage than it is in Florida.

Citing one of those recent cases where promising rising boxer Tyrone Oliver Jr and his brother Shakuar Oliver were killed, Williams noted how he was able to showcase Oliver Jr on the two Bahamas Sons Promotions held in Grand Bahama in 2018 and New Providence.

“My respect and condolences go out to his family,” he stated. “I tried and created a platform that he was able to benefit from. He was a young man with a lot of promise, but there’s a lot of distractions out there and a lot of hatred and violence.

“We just have to focus on the ones who are here and hope that we can save some of them.

“I think we have more good kids than we have bad kids. We just need more direction in their lives.

“It doesn’t have to be boxing, but we can do it in athletics, softball, baseball, basketball and some of the other sporting disciplines,” he stated.

Williams also expressed his condolences to the family of the late Ray Minus Jr, who passed away last week in Princess Margaret Hospital at the age of 58 after suffering from Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS).

“Ray Minus Jr was a great boxer, a great athlete but, most importantly, he was an excellent man and a great human being,” Williams said. “He was very humble, friendly and he always had a big smile on his face whether he was happy or sad.

“As an amateur, I got to know Ray when I competed for Grand Bahama in the first Bahamas Games and I beat up on some of the boxers he coached from New Providence,” Williams said.

“I last saw him when he came to Grand Bahama for the professional boxing show we put on there. He came with Tyrone Oliver and his coach Ron Rodgers.

“Just to see him deteriorate slowly with ASL was really sad to see. He’s gone, but not forgotten.

“He’s one of the greatest pugilists to come out of the Bahamas. May his soul rest in peace.”