The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

KESHNO Major, Rashield Williams, Ronald Woodside and Godfrey Strachan will carry the Bahamian flag at the AIBA’s annual Independent Cup in the Dominican Republic next month as they begin the trek towards the 2016 Olympic Games.

The quartet will travel with coaches Andre Seymour and Kayla Johnson on February 8 and return home on February 15. Carl Hield, the other top amateur boxer, will not make the trip as he is in Mexico in another training camp.

“These are our next generation of boxers that we hope will shine on the international scene,” said Seymour, who is looking for the replacements for Taureano ‘Reno’ Johnson and Valentino Knowles, who have all turned pro.

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Bahamas has taken boxers to the Independent Cup every year, except last year. The association is heading back with Major, Williams and Strachan, who have all competed before.

“We are expecting some good things from these boxers. They are all senior boxers who have represented the Bahamas before,” he noted. “So I’m looking for all of them to come home with medals. We just want to see what condition they are in. But it’s going to be tough because a lot of countries are expected to be there.”

Johnson, the first Bahamian female boxing coach, will be making her debut on an international trip.

“I feel this is going to be a very successful trip. We might have some challenges, but we can face them pretty good,” she said. “With me and Mr Seymour putting our skills together, we will come up with some plans to help them win.”

Johnson, the sister of professional boxer Taureano ‘Reno’ Johnson, said since they’ve been working with the boxers, they have seen a tremendous improvement in each of them.

“We are working on their defence. That’s the only thing that we have left to work on and they are getting that downpacked too,” she said. “So we are looking forward to them performing very well when they go.”

Keshno Major -

super heavyweight

Major, 29, has been competing for the past decade and as the most seasoned of the crew, he is looking forward to leading by example. “I had a few ups and downs in the sport, but I always rise to the top,” he said. “Through God, I have been able to make it. So I’m just trying to use my ability to motivate the younger boxers.”

Major has represented the Bahamas at the Junior Olympic Games in 2001 and the Commonwealth Games in 2002. I want to become an Olympic gold medallist and a world champion.”

Rashield Williams -

64 kilo class/junior

welterweight

Williams, 24, started boxing in 2006 and since then he has been slowly making his presence felt. “I’m looking forward to coming back with the gold,” he said. “Everyone on this team is confident, we are working hard and we’re putting in the work. So we are expecting some big things.”

Ronald Woodside - 56 kilo

class or featherweight

Woodside, 21, has been competing since 2006, having last competed in the Dominican Republic in 2011. “I’m looking for the gold,” he said. “Based on the team, I think we have a strong team going into the Dominican Republic. I think we have a very experienced team, so we should all do very well. But I really want to bring back the gold medal. My goal is to perfect my skill to the best of my ability and hopefully make it to the Olympic Games,” he said.

Godfrey Strachan - 69 kilo

class or welterweight

Strachan, 22, has been boxing since the age of seven and he has represented the Bahamas on a number of national teams.

“I’m training hard under my coaches Ray Minus Jr and Gregory Storr,” he said. “I’m looking forward to coming home with the gold.”

As for his team-mates, Strachan said they have been training hard every day and so he expects nothing but the best from each of them.

In addition, on Saturday between the hours of 7am and 1pm, Strachan is preparing to hold a souse-out at the national boxing gym in the Baillou Hills Sporitng Complex.

The public is asked to come out and assist Strachan as he attempts to raise money for himself and his team-mates to make the trip to the Dominican Republic next month.