The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A former world heavyweight champion is prepared to lend his assistance to boxing development in the Bahamas.

Riddick Bowe and I Fight Promotions have announced their plans to provide a boost to the profile of the sport locally.

"I've done some things in the sport at the highest level and I'm looking to give back, whether it is training, promoting, however, I can help," Bowe said, "My father is Bahamian. I'm one of you guys."

Chris Joy CEO of I Fight Promotions has also promoted events in other Caribbean islands and has now focused on the talent in the Bahamas.

"I have a very special interest in the Bahamas. I came here a few years ago and saw great talent in boxing. I know there are many Riddick Bowe's out there with that talent, they just need the opportunity," he said, "The best heavyweight boxer of Bahamian descent of all time, is Riddick. The only thing that was wrong is that his career was in the US. If his career had been here I would not have had the opportunity to stand here. Bowe hopes to come home to help out the boxing community here. For him, this is like coming home. It is our job to find the next Riddicik Bowe, the next world champion."

Bouts

Joy said he already has a list of pro fighters that are eager to stage bouts in the Bahamas, including the brother of boxing's most recognised name.

"We have elite fighters from the Mayweather camp that have already agreed to fight. Justin Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather's brother, has agreed to come here to fight and there will be others," he said, "The goal is to make Bahamian boxing bigger and better."

Local boxing icon and Champion Amateur Boxing Club Director Ray Minus Jr said the local boxing community will welcome Bowe's assistance in rejuvenating the sport.

"Riddick Bowe has great ties in the Bahamas. His family is here, his roots are here in the Bahamas and so he is really one of us. For him to go over and achieve so much and come back home to help boxing rise again in this country can be a great blessing," he said, "I would like to thank him because boxing right now in the country is at a very low point and I don't think anything can stop the great knowledge and achievement he has had in the sport from having an impact on local boxing."

A certified Hall of Famer, Bowe is known as the only Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion to have earned belts from all four main sanctioning bodies - WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO. The controversial heavyweight faced some of the best fighters of his era, including Andrzej Golota, Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield, Jorge Luis Gonzalez, Herbie "Dancing Destroyer" Hide, and Michael "Dynamite" Dokes. After more than 40 career fights, Bowe is one of five former heavyweight champions who never suffered a stoppage defeat.