Tuesday, March 9, 2010

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Grand Bahama Boxers Headed For New Providence Fred Sturrup ~ NG Associate Editor ~ frederick@nasguard.com: Two groups of boxers led by Terry Goldsmith and Arthur Missick will converge on New Providence this weekend, with hopes of carting off most of the trophies. Amateur Boxing Federation of The Bahamas President Wellington Miller has informed that a tournament is scheduled for Saturday, February 14 at the Carmichael Police Complex. This will be a great opportunity for the boxers from Grand Bahama to prove that their program is as solid as that in New Providence. Always, because of a number of circumstances that presented advantages for the boxers of New Providence, those in the capital have upstaged those in the other islands. But according to Miller, he expects the GB contingent to make a statement. It would be refreshing indeed if the boxing mentors in GB, the veteran Goldsmith and Missick are able to have success with their charges. Such a development would speak very well to the depth of amateur boxing in the country. The tournament, it is hoped by the ABFB executives, will set the stage for the future. There is a big effort being made now to broaden the amateur boxing environment in The Bahamas. A new club was formed in Bimini last year by the Pan American Caribbean Boxing Organization and, hopefully, soon those boxers, as soon as they are properly seasoned, will get into the tournament mix. There is also a new focus on female boxing. According to Miller the federation is encouraging this new dimension to amateur boxing in the country. Androsian Rosemary Greene to this date is the only Bahamian female boxer to participate in an official boxing match. Later this year a return encounter with the Cayman Islands will involve female boxing as well. Boxers from the Cayman Islands clashed with The Bahamas last November during the Caribbean Awards Sports Icons week and the nations split the affair 2-2. There will be a female flavor at the event this weekend. Kayla Johnson, the sister of standout boxer Taureano Johnson will be leading a team from Pinewood. She has taken over the coaching duties from her brother. The return tourney to the Cayman Islands should be quite interesting. Saturday's tournament will launch the 2010 season for the federation. Preparations are being made for the prestigious Independencia tournament in the Dominican Republic. Each year the tournament draws a large selection of teams from throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. The Bahamas always participates and last year, Carl Heild won the silver medal in the welterweight division. Best wishes to the federation and its boxing fraternity. Monday February 08, 2010