The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

KEEPING with their mandate to increase the exposure of amateur boxing in the country, Champion Amateur Boxing Club (CABC) is scheduled to host another event - an integral part of the development of prospective fighters for the 2016 Olympics.

CABC is slated to host its next show 6pm April 28 (Saturday) at the Wulff Road Boxing Square. All amateur boxers and boxing clubs are welcome to participate in the event.

CABC head coach Ray Minus Jr said it gives hope to these youngsters in that they have boxers such as Taureano 'Reno' Johnson, Valentino Knowles and Carl Hield, all of whom came out of this same programme and have excelled on the international scene.

"We know that we can produce Olympic prospects because we have already done it," said Minus Jr of Johnson, who competed in the 2008 Olympics. "We feel like we can continue to keep these young men focused on the Olympics and give them the hope to achieve that goal of getting to the Olympics. Once they have the talent, we want to give them the opportunity."

Minus Jr encouraged the public to come and support the boxers with each event as they begin their trek to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"We are basically trying to accomplish a focus of purpose, which is to gear them towards the 2016 Olympic Games," said club executive Ray Minus Jr of the tournament. "That was why we named it the Olympic Movement because we want those boxers to start preparing in their minds and preparing physically for the 2016 Olympics because these same boys around the age of 15, 16 and 17 years old, they will have the experience under their belts to qualify for the Bahamas team."

Next on the schedule for the club will be one of its marquee events, the 17th edition of the Wellington "Sonny Boy" Rahming Silver Gloves Championships in May.

The event is expected to feature more than 50 bouts on consecutive Saturdays for four weeks and geared towards placing a greater focus on the development of local boxing's rising stars.

The boxers are expected to compete for several honours, including most improved boxer, most outstanding boxer, best fight of the event and the Wellington 'Sonny Boy' Rahming trophy.

'Sonny Boy' Rahming was a very well-known local fighter during the "golden years" of professional boxing.

In the ring, he squared off with the likes of Yama Bahama, Gomeo Brennan and Boston Blackie.

Following a career in the ring, he turned to training and mentoring generations of young boxers on the local scene and helped to hone the skills of some of the country's best fighters.

Minus Jr said Rahming was a special case because of the attention and focus he gave to underprivileged young men from around the local community.

"In the last tournament, it was so exciting that we had about 60 matches in that tournament and that was a record-breaking amount of matches for a local show," Minus Jr said. "So many boxers were able to make their debuts and a lot of boxers were able to gain valuable experience and good position to represent the Bahamas in international boxing."