The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE local boxing fraternity mourns the loss of another one of its outstanding members, Henry ‘Goatman’ Rolle, who passed away on Saturday, December 5.

Pat’ the Centreville Assassin’ Strachan said Rolle, 73, was a dedicated and outstanding trainer, who assisted many of the top amateur and professional boxers, both locally and internationally.

“He was one of our more outstanding trainers,” Strachan said. “He trained Baby Rolle, a former Bahamian light heavyweight and heavyweight champion. He also trained Slick Brown, a former cruiserweight champion of the Bahamas.

“Although I was in my teens back then, I saw the training and conditioning that Goat-man took Baby Boy Rolle through that enabled him to go the full distance with John Conteh (for the Commonwealth British Empire light heavyweight title on October 23, 1973 in Ice Rink Nottingham) and gave him one hell of a fight.”

Strachan, speaking on behalf of the Retired Boxers Association of which he is the chair-man, said Rolle sacrificed for good of the sport and provided instructions to boxers, even if they were not apart of his team.

“Back then, the Nassau Stadium was the place for the top fighters to train in the 1970s and 1980s,” Strachan said. “He worked with everybody who needed his assistance.”

Strachan also recalled Rolle working with the late Mohammed Ali, the former world boxing heavyweight champion, as a sparring partner whenever he was called upon to travel to the United States.

“Goatman was one of those persons who represented the country very well,” Strachan pointed out.

“He was one of the true guys in professional boxing. He will be sorely missed. I could see him and Baby Boy Rolle strolling into the gym in the 1970s to train. I know Goatman. He was a few years older than I am, but I trained along with him and in the same environment. He knew boxing. He was a great trainer.”