The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the Bahamian Sons Promotions holds their second Back Yard Rumble, a number of fighters out of the Strikers Boxing Club are hoping to make their debut.

The boxers, including Chino Sherman, Israel Johnson, Malik Glinton and Deangelo Swaby, will be appearing on the undercard of the show, highlighted by Sherman ‘The Tank’ Williams, at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium on April 13.

They will join teammate Tyrone Oliver, who made his debut at the initial Back Yard Rumble in Grand Bahama that also featured Amron ‘Sandman’ Sands, who is in his second year on a perfect campaign in the heavyweight division.

After fighting in his fifth fight in his pro career, pulling off an unanimous decision over Jerry ‘Big Daddy’ Butler last year, Sands won his next two fights to close out the year undefeated at 7-0.

He opened the year with a victory over Hector Hodge on February 16 in Saint Petersburg, Florida and is looking to appear on this second show after he takes care of his next opponent next weekend.

“It’s really good to bring the talent home because a lot of people think I started in the US, but Strikers Boxing Club is where I got started just like these guys in the amateur ranks,” Sands said. “So we’re looking to go on the same path, continuing to go undefeated and doing what we have to do. This is going to be a good show so you don’t want to miss it.”

Sands, a 24-year-old 6-foot-six contender, said he looks to bring a lot of action to the ring. Once his opponent comes prepared, he said the fans will definitely be entertained.

“You might see a knockout,” he said. “They don’t call me the Sandman for nothing.”

Sherman, making his pro debut, said this is an opportunity that he has dreamed about for a long time. “Every single day I wake up, I think about it,” he said. “I’ve been training with (coach) Ronn (Rodgers) a long time. It was on and off, not sure when it was going to happen, but through fate, here it is. It’s about to happen in April.”

Having been in the amateur ranks for quite a while, but never got a major breakthrough to box in any of the major international events, Sherman said this is the time that God has designed for him.

“Ever since I joined Ronn, I can’t express my progress,” he said. “Looking at myself before I joined him, it’s a total 180, so I’m ready to go pro.”

For Johnson, he had some aspirations to also box for an Olympic medal, but that didn’t materialise.

“It’s a fact that me, Tyrone (Oliver) and Amron (Sands) been around for a while,” Johnson said. “We started here. Also, we started with Ronn Rodgers.

“The amateur journey has been a committed one. It had its fall throughs, but for right now, we’re transitioning in pro and that is our main focus.”

Johnson said he intends to enter the pro ranks slightly heavier than he boxed as an amateur, moving up either to cruiserweight or light heavyweight, so he expects to deliver some bombs.

“I’m coming in a little heavier, so I will let some bombs out. I’m just happy for this opportunity, I’m happy to be a part of it,” he said.

“If anything is guaranteed, it’s that I’m on the undercard, so you can expect some fireworks.

“You don’t want to miss it. If you miss it, you diss it because it’s going to free smoke going all out,” added Johnson.

Although he made his debut last year, Oliver said he encountered some minor injuries in the gym that prevented him from getting back until now.

“I’m back and I’m better,” he quipped.

“I’m focusing on bigger and better things. I left the past behind me and I’m embracing the future with great anticipation.”

Oliver said he will be out to display his skills so the Bahamian public can get to see who “Tyrone Oliver” really is.

“I dedicated 13 years in this sport at the age of 24, more than half of my life, so I have a lot to show and a lot to prove,” he said.

And Malik Glinton said when the opportunity presented itself for him to fight on the card, he jumped at it.

“I didn’t expect it to happen this soon in that I basically just put a year and-a-half into it, but coach is such a great coach that he whipped me into shape that quick,” he said.

“It’s going to be a great fire, free smokes for everybody. We will have a great time.

“As coach always tells us, train hard so that we can have an easy time. That is what we do here at Strikers Boxing Club.”

Glinton said like all of the other fighters, he is looking forward to a bright future in the sport.