The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

CARL Hield, one of the most decorated amateur boxers in The Bahamas, had a successful pro debut in Cartagena, Colombia, at the International Knockout Night event over the weekend.

The veteran boxer earned his stripes when he pulled off a second round technical knockout win in the super welterweight division against Colombia’s Elkin Bolaño at the Saga Boxing Club Gym.

Joining Hield on the trip was 18-year-old amateur boxer Anai Powell who also emerged victorious against his opponent Fernando Gonzalez in the welterweight division.

Hield, who was still soaking in the moment, talked about how it felt not only making his professional debut but topping it off with a win.

“It was good, it was a long wait. I was supposed to turn pro a long time ago but I was focused on representing my country. I was not given the opportunity to go to the Pan American Games so I just decided to stay active until the Olympic trials next year and go pro where I can be in more fights, not just training instead of competing,” he said.

The former Sugar Bert Tournament gold medallist’s initial opponent was scheduled to be Colombian John Blanco but, at the last minute, it switched to Bolaño.

However, Hield’s focus remained the same and he just wanted to execute what he had been practicing in training camp.

“The key for me was to just go in there and do what we did in training and I always fight in the attack, the body and head at the same time style, so the guy could not deal with the shots I gave him,” he said.

In some peak moments of the match, Hield dished out thunderous blows to a vulnerable Bolaño trapped into the corner.

He remained on the attack while his opponent tried to avoid the strikes but ultimately was unable to escape the hits coming from Hield’s direction which led to the TKO.

The sweet pro debut victory took away the bittersweet feeling of not being selected by the Bahamas Olympic Committee to represent The Bahamas in Santiago, Chile, at the Pan Am Games.

Despite the odds, he is simply looking forward to competing more to have a chance at qualifying for his last attempt at making it to the Olympic Games.

“I am just glad I got the win and now I am in the professional rankings and I just want to keep going in more fights to see if I could be able to come home next year and fight for the Bahamian title,” the boxer said.

He dedicated his first professional fight to his late mother Norma Hield, the late great Ray Minus Jr, and his friend Tyrone Oliver, who he lost to gun violence, all in the same year.

Powell competed against Gonzalez in the welterweight division and was happy for the win and shared what was the strategy against his opponent.

“It is pretty decent knowing that I am getting more experience and being active.

“I used my distance and jab and then went at the body and that is what made me get the win,” the younger boxer said.

Both athletes are thankful to Insurance Management for making their journey to Colombia possible.

They will look to get on the card for Venezuela’s fight night on November 3.