The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

HIS current focus is on the ring and a matchup with Romanian heavyweight Bogdan Dinu, but Sherman “Tank” Williams is continuing to use boxing as a means to act as an ambassador for the Bahamas.

While preparing for next month’s bout, Williams is simultaneously in the midst with several promotional companies to stage a title fight in his native Grand Bahama.

Williams, the holder of the WBO China Zone heavyweight title and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title, said his meeting with the Viva Whydham Fortuna Group, who has expressed interest in promoting the fight, went well in the “first round” of discussions.

“It was a productive meeting to say the least. We were able to exchange our ideas and everyone seems enthused about bringing professional championship boxing to Freeport,” he said. “I’m eager to have to defend my WBO/Pacific titles and my manager was able to pull some strings and create an opportunity for me to defend those titles in The Bahamas rather than having to defend them in Asia. Viva Fortuna is on board with what we are doing and now the next step is I just have to finish up meetings with the minister for Grand Bahama, Dr Michael Darville and Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe.”

With his profile well known on the international level, the 40-year-old Williams has said he wants each fight of his career to now double as an opportunity to forge networking ties and boost sports tourism in the Bahamas.

“Going forward, we want every opportunity to promote the Bahamas, and Freeport, Grand Bahama, in particular. My team and I put it upon ourselves to really push the Bahamas at every opportunity and see how we can look forward to capitalising on whatever exposure we can get,” he said.

“When I travel to train, the gym we train in, we have the Bahamas flag draped everywhere and the interest is definitely growing wherever we travel so it is good for the entire country.”

Williams said he would like to see the Bahamas Government cash in on the publicity that he has generated because he has already been asked to return to Macau, China - the venue where he won his titles - and fight as an ambassador of the sport.

“As a Bahamian athlete living abroad, I believe that we should always motivate and promote our country and hopefully this world-class event will do just that. This is a good way to promote Grand Bahama on the international scene.”

He has targeted July as the month to host the title fight in Grand Bahama to maximise the excitement of the country’s 40th anniversary of Independence celebrations.