The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Having made the weight and holding an advantage in height, Meacher ‘Pain’ Major said he’s confident that he will be successful against Brazilian Roger Rosa tonight in their light welterweight fight in the Rain Forest Theatre at the Wyndham Resort Hotel, Cable Beach.

But the 32-year-old Major, who is coming off two consecutive losses, is not taking Rosa too lightly, despite the fact that the 29-year-old came in from Oviedo, Florida slightly overweight by 1 3/4 pound.

The two, whose weigh-in was conducted by Bahamas Boxing Commission’s member and internationally certified referee and judge Alvin Sargent, are slated to square off in the main event as professional boxing returns to the Bahamas. The show, dubbed ‘Pain and Glory,’ is being organised by Tommy Stubbs of Button’s Formal Wear and Ronn Rodgers of the Strikers Boxing Club.

In giving God thanks, Major welcomed Rosa back to the Bahamas after he came here a couple weeks ago to sign his official contract. Rosa told Major that coming from a country of millions of people, there was no way that he was going to lose to someone on “an island with just 500.”

“All of the trash talking is over. All of the comments he made, come tomorrow (tonight), these blows will talk on him,” said Major, who topped the scale at 136, just under the required mark of 140 that they agreed upon. “I’m just excited about it. I just wish everybody will come out and support it because it’s going to be a great show.

“Thanks to my trainers, Nathaniel Knowles, Cassius Moss and Gregory Storr, they have me prepared for this fight. I’m looking forward to coming out victorious because he made one mistake when he didn’t make the weight. I know he’s coming in great shape because they are aware of how I fight. This is not going to be an easy fight. But I’m coming to bring my best and I know I will be victorious.”

While there was some concern about the 1 3/4 pounds that Rosa will have to shed by tonight, Major said he knows the extra weight is playing on Rosa’s mind and he intends to use that to his advantage.

“When you have to prepare for a fight, it takes a toll on you when you have to lose weight,” Major said. “But I don’t think it will have an effect on him. He came to fight and I know he’s a good fighter. He’s not going to be a pushover because he only has 10 fights. I’m not going to use my experience as an advantage. I’m just going to go out there and fight and the public will see me like they have never seen me before.”

At five-feet, seven-inches, Major, whose win-loss-draw record is 20-6-1, has a height advantage as well over Rosa, who at 5-4, is 5-4-1. The good thing is both fighters are coming in with two consecutive losses. While Major has not fought since 2012, Rosa dropped the last two of his three fights this year.

For Rosa, despite being overweight, he’s not concerned or perturbed at all because he feels he will only need about 20 minutes to knock off the weight.

“It’s only one and three quarter pounds. That’s nothing to lose,” Rosa said.

Unlike his initial appearance here, Rosa was not as boisterous in his comments when asked if he’s still going to take care of Major.

“Of course,” he said. “Every fighter has to be confident that he’s going to win. I’m coming here to win. I’m going to bring a lot of action. It’s going to be exciting. The people paying to see a lot of action. So that’s what I’m going to bring.”

From both corners, the coaches are predicting a super fight from their respective fighters.

Legendary coach Cassius Moss, who was filling in for Knowles, said the fight will definitely not go the distance.

“This game calls for boxing, not fighting. I’m not going there to fight him. I’m going there to box him,” he stated. “I’m second in command. The great Nat Knowles is ahead of me. He couldn’t make it, but I am here. He could look for the worse beating of his life.”

Roberto Rois, Rosa’s trainer, added: “He’s looking good. We’re not really concerned about much. We’re just going to come here and do what we usually do and that is come out with a victory. He’s prepared for this fight. We’ve done a lot of sparring with taller and heavier guys, so we have covered all of our bases and we are just waiting to get in there and do what we have to do.”