The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net

Promoter Michelle Minus and her First Class Promotions is back with another exciting professional boxing show, this time with an all-female cast of competitors.

In their first show in more than a decade, Minus announced that in conjunction with Quinton Brennen of QB Events Consulting and Marketing, First Class Promotions will host a World Boxing Association super lightweight title fight between Canadian Jessica “The Cobra” Camara and Dominican Republic’s Dahiana Santana 8pm on Friday, October 28 at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.

Camara comes into the fight with a 7-1 win-loss record against Santana, the more experienced of the two with a 40-13 record. She is a former IBA world champion. Both fighters are aged 34.

Under the theme “Fighting For the Cure,” the main event of the card, which will be a colour pink affair in recognition of Breast Cancer Month, will cover some 10 rounds, while there will be four other bouts featuring all females on the undercard.

During the show, Minus said Ray Minus Jr, the founder of Champion Boxing Club which gave birth to First Class Promotions, will be honoured for his contribution to the sport of boxing, both at the amateur and professional ranks.

“Ray has been one of the most outstanding boxers, who has contributed significantly to the sport,” said Minus, who worked feverishly with her husband during the heydays when he coached and produced three boxers with seven championship titles.

They included Jermaine ‘Choo Choo’ Mackey with four belts and both Meacher ‘Major Pain’ Major and Elkino Saunders with one. All three boxers held the WBA Fedecaribe titles, while Mackey held the Bahamas, World Boxing Council (WBC) Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) and the British Commonwealth super middleweight titles.

Minus noted that during the night, Minus said they will also recognise a number of the fighters who came up through the ranks of Champion Boxing Club and First Class Promotions under the tutelage of Minus, who is currently recuperating from a series of injuries. The show is being partnered by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and will be sanctioned by the Bahamas Boxing Commission.

According to Minus, this is just the beginning of the return of First Class Promotions.

“I’m hooked up with the top weight division for boxing, the IBF, who match made the show,” Minus said. “When I made the call, they were able to put everything together because they want to bring more fights of this sort to the Caribbean and the Bahamas in general. “This is the first all-female boxing show ever staged in the Caribbean.

“We are also planning on putting on the first unisex show here in the Bahamas in the future. We just want to make sure that we get this one under our belt first.”

Minus said the whole idea is to support the fight against breast cancer and the Sister Sister Group.

Tickets for the event are $35 for general admission and $125 for VIP. All major cards will be accepted for payment.

Quinton Brennen, who now operates his QB Events consulting and marketing company after his departure from the National Sports Authority as the general manager, said he’s delighted to venture with First Class Promotions and Minus in taking the event from paper to fruition.

“I’m responsible for the logistics, the organising, the full operation and the breakdown of the event,” he said. “Right now, we’re trying to secure all of the necessary funding to make the event a success.

“But I’m happy to be associated with Michelle and First Class Promotions in this being a first time event in the country. Nothing much has been happening with boxing in the country, so it’s good to see the sport come back and come back in such a unique way with an all-female show.”

Brennen said they hope to put on a first-class event that will attract all Bahamians to attend.

The event comes just before the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture hosts its Sports Month in November where the focus will be on recognising some of the former greats who have made their contribution to sports in the country over the years.