The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THEY were supposed to take a full team, but the Amateur Boxing Federation of the Bahamas has reduced it to two members as they head to the Caribbean Development Tournament in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The tournament, which replaced the CARIFTA Games that was stopped in 2007 when it was last held in St Maartin, will feature veteran Rashield Williams in the open 69 kiloclass and Damian Smith, a newcomer competing in the novice light heavyweight 81 kiloclass in just his second international fight.

Coached by former national amateur boxer Valentino Knowles, the team will depart town today and will return home on December 11.

“Once we dominated our fighters in the Caribbean, we know that we are ready for the Spanish fighters,” said Knowles, who has been working with both competitors at the National Boxing Gym at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

“We had a lot of success in the Carifta Games, including myself, Taureano ‘Reno’ Johnson and Carl Hield. So we are hoping that these two boxers will start the trend all over again.

“The Olympics just gone and we are making a transition with our team, trying to get them ready to compete at the next Olympics. We still have Carl Hield, who is planning on going on for another four years to pursue his Olympic dream.”

Knowles said he was hoping that the boxing association, headed by Wellington Miller, would have carried a larger team, but they had to cut it down at the last minute.

“For us in the Bahamas, we have always been dominant in the Caribbean,” Knowles said. “So I look forward to us bringing back two gold medals. My expectations are very high for these two guys. I know we can do it.”

Both boxers indicated that they are looking forward to the challenge.

“I feel good. I always keep myself in shape and I’m always ready to compete,” Williams stated. “You could expect a gold. I’m looking forward to winning the gold.”

Williams, 27, said he’s stayed in the gym and he’s hoping that his persistence will pay of in the long run.

“This is just something I love. I just keep pushing,” Williams stressed. “I never give up.”

Although he’s only been competing in the sport for 11 years, Smith said he feel he’s ready to take on the world.

“I’m going down there to bring back the gold medal,” he insisted. “I want to go there and make our country look good. I’m going to put on a great show. I’ve been training hard every day. I’m probably in the best shape of my life right now.”

Smith, 19, said he fee; he’s in the right atmosphere with Knowles as his coach.

“I think Valentino Knowles is probably the best coach in the Bahamas right now,” he proclaimed. “I’m glad that I’ve been training under him. I’m surprised at where I’m at, but it’s all because of coach Valentino Knowles.”