The Tribune

by RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A leading amateur boxing club in the Bahamas is all set to ring the bell, opening competition in one of its landmark events this weekend.

Champion Amateur Boxing Club is slated to host the final weekend of its 19th Annual L Garth Wright Golden Gloves Tournament. Action in the ring is scheduled to get under way at 6pm on Saturday, October 13, at the Wulff Road Boxing Square.

Based on the outcome and productivity of the year thus far, CABC executive Ray Minus Jr expects the trend to continue for the Golden Gloves. All amateur clubs are invited to participate.

“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 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.”

The tournament continues through November 3rd, each Saturday at the same venue.

“We are trying to get more kids involved in the programme, that is our aim, Minus said, “We are very excited about this next week. Many kids are preparing who have not fought yet and are looking to make their debuts. So many successful good things came out of this programme and this show in particular, some of the biggest names in Bahamian boxing today. Even persons who went on to have thriving professional careers in all walks of life, not just in boxing. It has produced Olympic boxers, Commonwealth boxers and Bahamian champions and we are happy to be able to continue this event.We want to showcase everybody and really, really bring boxing together and get everybody involved in this tournament”

Awards, including the L Garth Wright Award, will be presented to the boxers for the best fight of the night, most improved boxer and MVP of the night.

The CABC Director added that the many local events give hope to young boxers such who can look to 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, and it starts here” 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.”

He 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. 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.”