After a disappointing turn of events that postponed his long-awaited return to the ring, Bahamian professional boxer Tureano Johnson, along with members of his management team at Golden Boy Promotions are ready to give it another shot in the coming weeks.
Johnson's return to the ring was originally supposed to take place last Saturday. However, the fight was scrapped after Johnson didn't make weight for the middleweight division, and his opponent Antonio Gutierrez turned down a deal from Johnson's team and walked away from the fight.
Gutierrez refused to make a financial deal, which was estimated to be in the neighborhood of $40,000, as a matter of principle. According to Johnson's attorney, Jim Thomas, there was a feeling that Gutierrez simply wanted no part of Johnson in the ring.
"I don't think we ran into a fighter with principle; we ran into a fighter who wouldn't possibly win and would not fight under any circumstances, including us giving Mr. Gutierrez all of the money from the fight, 100 percent, so we got absolutely nothing," he said in an interview with Boxingscene.com. "He still said no over the difference of 1.6 pounds. That's how far Tureano was."
Thomas said that although there's no definitive date set for Johnson's next fight, he hopes that it comes very soon.
"As soon as possible," Thomas said when asked when he wants Johnson to get back in the ring. "If we had a fight next week we'd do it. We're going to fight within the next six weeks and it'll be a quality opponent."
As for now, Johnson remains the International Boxing Federation's (IBF) mandatory No. 1 contender for Gennady "Triple G" Golovkin's middleweight title - a position that Thomas hopes remains the same, despite the debacle surrounding the last fight.
"I don't think it (his position) should change," he said. "If I was a decision maker it would not. I'm hoping it does not. I'm hoping we stay right where we are, because we did everything we could to get in there and fight and this guy calls it principle. I call it something else."
Johnson's last fight was on October 17, 2015, a decision on points over Irishman Eamonn O'Kane. Since then, he had been sidelined with a shoulder injury.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) this week praised members of the Bahamas Baseball Federation (BBF) and other associated programs in the country for the sport's growth locally over the last few years.
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari also commended Prime Minister Perry Christie and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr. Daniel Johnson for backing the new $21 million baseball venue that is currently under construction on New Providence, the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium.
The Andre Rodgers stadium will boast 4,500 seats and is named after the first Bahamian to play Major League Baseball (MLB). It is located in the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, opposite Government High School.
"We are truly in a new global era for baseball and softball," said Fraccari in a release about The Bahamas' growth. "The added value and benefits of baseball/softball to both young people and communities is becoming more widely recognized and supported by government officials and sports ministries around the world. The WBSC congratulates the baseball leaders in The Bahamas for the growth and youth engagement that is being generated in collaboration with the government of The Bahamas."
According to Senator Greg Burrows, who heads the Freedom Farm Baseball League, baseball is the fastest growing sport in the country, with the most effective development program.
"Our numbers continue to grow with close to 800 kids in the program, 60 to 70 coaches, over 100 volunteers and parents who assist the program," said Burrows in a recent interview.
Both Freedom Farm and the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN) kicked off their respective regular seasons last month, with more than 75 teams involved across various age groups.
The Bahamas has become a hotbed for baseball talent in recent years, as a number of players have signed professional contracts with major league organizations. Others have received scholarships to play collegiate baseball.
Some of the recent signings include Lucius Fox (Tampa Bay Rays), Anfernee Seymour (Atlanta Braves), Todd Isaacs (Cleveland Indians) and Jasarado Chisolm (Arizona Diamondbacks).

The Bahamas' newest crop of budding junior equestrian athletes were on display in two days of fierce competition at the Mariposa Winter Horse Show, held last weekend at Mariposa Stables in western New Providence. The show marked the third leg of the equestrian horse show season, and dozens of junior riders met to test their skills in varying classes of competition.
Classes ranged from the very beginner "Leadline", featuring competitors as young as five-years-old, to more technically demanding classes in the Jumper and Equitation Divisions. The Equitation classes were featured on Saturday. They were judged on the elegance and effectiveness of the rider over a series of 'tests'.
Carisa Brogden, 15, was the star of the day, riding Mrs. Kim Johnson's Sterling Silver to win the qualifying class of the Bahamas Junior Classic.
The Bahamas Junior Classic is a national event featuring the country's best junior riders. Qualifier rounds are held throughout the horse show season, and riders must amass 10 or more points in order to qualify for the Classic Final, which this year will be held in March.
On Sunday, the watching crowd cheered excitedly for the Jumper events, which are based on the ability of horse and rider to clear a course of jumps in the fastest time.
"Jumper events, or showjumping, is the Olympic discipline that people may be used to seeing on television," commented Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre, president of Equestrian Bahamas. "Showjumping is easier for the spectator to follow, because the winner is the one who clears the course in the fastest time, and knocks down the fewest jumps. In reality, however, a showjumping course is far more difficult to ride. Equitation classes, like the ones held on Saturday, serve as the technical preparation needed for young riders to compete in the Jumper ring. Equestrian Bahamas is committed not only to providing competitive opportunities through horse shows, but to developing technical excellence in the sport so that our riders can successfully compete abroad."
In Sunday's Jumper classes, top honors were shared by Carisa Brogden, on Sterling Silver, and Siena Holowesko, riding Erika Adderley's Gandolfe. Brogden and Holowesko were Co-Champions in the Hopeful Jumpers Division.
The guest judge of the event was Jill MacRae of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. MacRae is an accomplished rider, coach, and judge, having trained horses and riders for many years. She was the Team Manager and Leader for the Canadian Equestrian Team at major international competitions, including past Olympic, Pan Am, and World Equestrian Games. MacRae was impressed by the level of riding on display, and at the close of the show encouraged all riders and their trainers to continue their efforts to excellence.
The next competition on Equestrian Bahamas' calendar will be held at Camperdown Equestrian Centre, February 11-12, 2017. Admission is free, and all are invited to attend.

PLANTATION, Florida -- The countdown has begun for the Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament taking place in Grand Bahama, April 20-23, 2017.
About 300 persons are expected to participate in the event, which combines big game fishing with kayaking for a $10,000 prize and experience of a lifetime in the pristine waters of The Bahamas.
Fish caught during the tournament will be given to the Grand Bahama Children's Home, Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina, and volunteers assisting with the project.
According to Richard Treco, Sr. Manager of Vertical Markets for the Ministry of Tourism, this event has gained tremendous interest.
"This event, now in its fourth year, has gained tremendous interest and notoriety for anglers and sporting enthusiasts from throughout the USA, Canada, China and Brazil," he said. "We have seen the competition grow each year from 40 anglers in our inaugural year in 2014 to some 280 participants last year.
"The high level of competition, coupled with our incredible on-island authentic cultural experiences and diverse product offering, makes this event most attractive for the seasoned as well as relatively new to the sport, angler."
Pre and post tournament packages range from $595 triple or quadruple occupancy for a three-night stay to $1370 single occupancy for a seven-night stay inclusive of tournament registration, hotel accommodations at the Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina, round-trip transportation for the angler and his/her kayak from Port Everglades to Grand Bahama, a cocktail reception and the awards dinner.
Joe Hector, of Extreme Kayak Fishing International and organizer of the event, said he is excited to work with the Ministry of Tourism on this tournament, and is particularly pleased with the rapid growth of this event.
"The Bahamas Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament truly is the gold standard for kayak fishing in the world, as it provides everything into one great getaway; fun and family adventures, awesome fishing from white and blue marlins to huge mutton snappers, friendly people and the most beautiful destination in the world."
Persons interested in registering for the tournament can visit the website www.extremekayakfishing.com. The sponsors for this year's tournament are the Ministry of Tourism, Turbo USA, Nautical Ventures, Costa, Fishbrain, Balearia Bahamas Express, Pompano Ford, Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina, Sands Beer and H. Forbes Charter.