The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH just the final trials in Baku, Azerbaijan, left for the local boxers to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games, the Amateur Boxing Association of the Bahamas is doing everything possible to ensure that they make the trip next month.

After the team of boxers fell short at the first trials held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 11-19, the boxers found out that there won’t be sufficient funds in the kitty to send them to Baku June 14-26.

National coach Andre Seymour said to ensure that the boxers have the opportunity to compete in the trials, they organised a souse out that was held at the National Boxing Center at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday.

“It was great,” Seymour said. “We had a lot of supporters. Everybody was there to make sure that we raise some money to send this team off. We were really surprised.”

Seymour said the boxers are ready to travel to Baku. Following the trip to Buenos Aires, he noted that they got invited to compete in a boxing exhibition in Trinidad & Tobago earlier this month and the boxers showed that they are all in a competitive mood and ready to compete in Baku.

“The boxers are ready,” he said. “The most important thing is just for them to stay focused. Time is winding down right now, but they are ready. Valentino Knowles is doing a wonderful job with their training at the National Centre.

“They are still working out with Natasha (Brown) in the morning, so their fitness level is right where we want them to be. We are just trying to keep them as fit and competitive and under their weight when they go to Baku to compete.”

Carl Hield, who is currently in Cuba training, is expected to lead the team when he competes in the 75 kilogram or middleweight.

Rashield Williams is expected to join him very soon in Cuba. Williams will be competing in the 64kg class or light welterweight.

They will be joined by Keishno Major, who will contest the 201-plus pound or super heavyweight division and Godfrey Strachan, who will compete in the 75 kg or middleweight division.

Valentino Knowles, one of the most successful amateur boxers who turned pro but had to cut his career shortly after he was involved in a drive-by shooting incident that almost took his life, will be travelling as the coach of the team.

A couple of boxers from the Strikers Boxing Club, headed by coach Ronn Rodgers, are also looking at travelling to Baku to compete in the tournament.

According to Seymour, it’s going to cost the amateur association between $2-3,000 per boxer to travel to Baku, which is the capital and the largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region.

Seymour said they were “surprised” by the support from the parents of the boxers, and other members of the amateur boxing clubs, who all came out and assisted in making the fund raiser a success.

As a result of the success of the event and the fact that they are still in need of some funding, Seymour said they are also looking at staging a grill out on Labour Day (June 3) at the same venue.

“We were surprised. The other boxers and people from the other sports all came out,” Seymour said. “We were really surprised. All of the souse out was sold out. We had a good time.”

With time winding down for the boxers, Seymour said they are always in need of good sparring and that is one of the reasons why they travel to Cuba because they have the competition over there.

“Cuba is just there for the sparring. The other things we can deal with right here,” Seymour said.

“Me and Valentino can deal with the technical aspects. They just need some good sparring.

“But heading into Baku, I am confident that our chances of qualifying is very good. They have to finish in the top four across the board in all of the weight divisions. So we feel confident that they can accomplish that goal.”

Seymour said the goal right now is to secure the necessary funding so that the team can travel. Once they can accomplish that, he said he’s looking forward to some great results in Baku.

• The Tribune is following Team Bahamas in the build up to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and will be reporting from Brazil this summer. The ‘242 on the Road to Rio series’ will appear every Monday and Thursday. Comments and responses to bstubbs@tribunemedia.net