The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net    

IN his bid to continue his winning streak as a professional boxer, Carl Hield will put his World Boxing Assocation’s Fedecaribe Super welterweight title on the line for the third time when he returns to Colombia to fight on Wednesday, February 26. 

This time as he heads to Santa Marta, Hield will take on Anthony Sáez from Venezuela who, at age 30, sports a 4-4-1 win-loss-draw record. They will square off in the main event for eight rounds. 

The 38-year-old Hield, coming off his successful debut at home as a pro with his ninth straight victory as he stopped Edwin Gamboa on Christmas Eve at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar resort, said he’s ready for what will be the prelude to an event that the Bahamian public will be waiting for in his next fight.

“I want to thank God for giving me the strength and the knowledge and the opportunity to keep myself active in the pro game,” said Hield, who won the WBA Fedecaribe title on June 21, 2024 over Colombian Christian Bautista in Cartagena, Colombia.

“My training...I was in Trinidad & Tobago and then I came back to Florida, so I am here with (Bahamian) Rashield (Williams in Fort Lauderdale), who is giving me some good sparring to get me prepared for the fight.”

Like every fight he takes on, Hield said the goal is for him to get better and better as he makes the necessary adjustments to what he would have done in his previous fights. 

“For me, everything is basically the same, but every training camp you should feel better than the last one,” Hield pointed out. 

“This one is going to be a little tougher because this will be my third straight title defence. So the training is a little more intense than the last one.”

Hield, who trains under the watchful eyes of coach Francisco Tineo, said he’s right where he needs to be to defend his title.

“I’m grateful to all the people who are making everything possible for training camp, my sponsors and everyone who is giving me their full support to make everything work the way it is going,” Hield said. “So, I want to thank God for that.”

He thanked his sponsors, including Rollin Type - Importers Limited; Rigger 242 Life; Octobulk and the Strikers Boxing Club. He promised that he will be prepared to give it his best shot against Sáez.

“I prepare for myself, so whatever he brings, I am prepared to back it up,” Hield stated.

“I don’t really prepare for a fighter. So, you could study and prepare for him, but he could come with a different plan.

“So, for me, I just prepare myself to make sure that I am 100 per cent ready for whoever I step into the ring to fight. I’m 120 per cent prepared. So, whatever he comes with, I have an answer for him.”

With his training camp over, Hield said he’s just trying to maintain his weight and do some light workouts before he leaves for Colombia on Sunday, February 23, because all of the hard sparring is done.

“I dedicate all of my fights to my mommy,” Hield said. “But I want the Bahamian public to stay tuned because we have some big history news, but I won’t break it out until I finish this fight. I will be fighting a month right after this fight. I have some big news to break after this fight.”

He said that some history is coming to the Bahamas within the next two months. He advises the public to stay tuned.