The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHERMAN ‘the Tank’ Williams likes what he has seen coming out of the Strikers Boxing Club. He feels like coach Ronn Rodgers has produced some quality fighters who have the potential to follow in his footsteps as a great fighter on the international scene.

Grand Bahamian native Williams, who now resides and trains out of Fort Myers, Florida, was in town to complete the deal for his Bahamian Sons Promotions’ second ‘Back Yard Rumble,’ scheduled for April 13 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Williams, 46, will take on 45-year-old Orlando Antonia ‘Knockout’ Farias of Argentina in the 12-round main event for the vacant Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) Inter-Continental heavyweight title. In town last week, Williams completed the negotiations with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and was excited to showcase a number of Rodgers’ fighters like Israel Johnson, DeAngelo Swaby, Chino Sherman and Kendrick Stewart, who are all expected to make their pro debut.

Also expected to return from the first Bahamian Sons Promotions show last year in Grand Bahama are undefeated heavyweight Amron ‘Sand Man’ Sands and Tyrone Oliver,

“We have a lot of talent here in Nassau and I think that this show is going to expose what we have,” Williams said. “We have Chino Sherman turning professional, we have Israel Johnson turning professional and Deangelo Swaby.

“I think this is going to be the beginning of something new, not only here in Nassau, but in the Bahamas. I think we have the ability with all this local talent to produce some regular local programming and sport entertainment and to get all of the islands familiar with the fighters again.”

With a home base, Williams said the cadre of young boxers could go on to become champions in every weight division.

He said the Bahamas always had the “goods,” but it’s all about building a solid platform for them to harness their professional skills in their own backyard.

“I think that along with the support of the Bahamas Boxing Commission, with the support of (Ministries) Sports and Tourism and with the support of the corporate sponsors already on board, I think we are going to embark on an exciting summer, starting April 13, Back Yard Rumble II is the place to be.”

In attendance was Calvin Green, the secretary for the Bahamas Boxing Commission, who ensured their support for the show.

Rodgers, who was a teammate of Williams in their amateur days when they attempted to qualify for the Olympic Games, decided to venture into coaching after he retired from competing.

While there are plans on the horizon to open up boxing clubs in Grand Bahama, Abaco and Bimini, Rodgers said he’s committed to getting the boxers into their transition from the amateur ranks to the pros, like undefeated heavyweight Amron” Sand Man’ Sands.

“Strikers Boxing Club has been opened since 2013 and the whole goal was to bring boxing back in the country,” Rodgers said.

“The goal was to get boxing to a close second to track and field, but there’s no season, so we can hold tournaments and shows any day of the year. “Right now, this is our second joint venture with Bahamian Sons Promotions and is our largest so far. We are now trying to get at least eight professional fighters make their debut on this card on April 13.”

In addition to the Bahamian Sons Promotions, Rodgers said they hope to develop a semi-pro league where they host shows every two months featuring a number of the top amateurs who are on the verge of completing their amateur careers if they get to qualify for any international events like the Olympics.

“Come out and see the Bahamian talent and enjoy the show,” Rodgers summed up.

After putting on what he called a “trial run” in Grand Bahama, which showcased undefeated heavyweight Amron ‘Sand Man’ Sands and both Tyrone Oliver and Justin Sawyer in their pro debuts, Williams said they hope to recreate that same type of environment in Nassau.

“We see that it’s possible and it could be done on a large scale, we plan to use it as a blueprint going forth for the show at Kendal Isaacs on April 13,” Williams said. “In addition to that, we are trying very hard to get ZNS on board so we can put this in a local caption.”

As a journeyman from Grand Bahama with a 41-15-2 win-loss-draw record with one no contest and 21 knockouts, Williams is still going strong and now he’s putting more energy into the promotions of shows with his wife and Bahamian Sons Promotions’ president Kimberly Williams.

“It’s not easy, but I try to stay spiritually grounded. The spiritual aspect of life is important. I try to live a clean life and I try to follow good Christian moral principles,” he pointed out.

“Stickability and longevity comes with good habits. My motivation comes from God and from within. I have a passion for boxing and fighting. I went to Hawksbill High School. If you went to Hawksbill, every day you had a fight. I always liked to fight, but I was able to transform that fight as a professional.”

As he gears up for his seventh appearance in the ring for a title, Williams said he is inspired and motivated and he has set some high goals and won’t allow people to set them for him.

“For whatever reason I stayed in the race this long, God has kept me. I’m healthy and I feel strong. Mentally I’m 110 per cent and at 46, I’m like a new 26, so I feel great. I put in 8-10 rounds in the gym every day, so I’m going to keep pressing forward.”

It was back in 2013 that he got into promotions and having gone through the process as a boxer, he’s following in the footsteps of a number of professional boxers who control their own destiny to provide the options and the opportunities that they had.

“In creating this platform for the up and coming fighters, I would not only be a co-promoter, but someone they can come to if they need advice, especially in signing a contract,” he said.

“I can be that big brother giving them some direction.

“Most importantly, I’m just happy to provide this platform that Tyrone Oliver was able to take advantage of last May and now we will have about 6-7 other young men being offered the same opportunity.”

For those who are turning pro, Williams simply told them to “keep your hands up and your chin down, the canvas is a hard place to fall.”

Williams, however, said he knows that the fighters are well trained by Rodgers and they are ready to go.