The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian pro boxer Amron Sands has his fists set on being the island nation's next great in the heavyweight division.

Sands is currently training in preparation for his next bout - against an opponent to be named later - at the Live Center in Orlando, Florida, on September 22.

The 23-year-old made his heavyweight debut with a TKO win over Julio Mendoza at the Lakeland Events Center in Lakeland, Florida, on August 5.

A former basketball player, Sands used boxing to help his recovery process following an injury, but eventually fell in love with the sport. "I was recovering from an ACL/MCL injury I sustained in Oklahoma while playing AAU basketball and began training with Ron Rodgers at Strikers Boxing Club to get back in shape. Ron saw my progress and convinced me to try boxing too.

Sands made the full transition and spent three years in the amateur ranks. He has four more fights scheduled for 2017.

"I hope to bring back the glory of the Ali era to the heavyweight division and to be the first Bahamian heavyweight champion. I would like to give the youth another option besides track and basketball as a sport. Baseball is making a comeback as well. Boxing is an individual sport where you determine how far you go with the right people around you and financial backing of course."

His manager, Marie Smith, said Sands is also working on the business aspect to accompany his rise in the ring. "He's been working very hard getting ready to fight in September. I feel Amron is really going to be big in the heavyweight division," she said.

"We are also trying to decide on a promotion company to partner with. Amron has gained a lot of interest from some of the legends of the sport, so we are weighing our options right now. As it stands right now, Roy Jones has reached out to us, and Evander Holyfield has also expressed interest in Amron. They are both legends, so we will take our time making a decision."