Locally-based boxing bodies challenged to revitalize sport

Fri, Nov 15th 2013, 11:43 AM

The boxing scene here in The Bahamas is on a downturn. A big reason for the inactivity is a sick economy. To present a more comprehensive sports outlook, it must be recognized that the sport of boxing is not the only discipline experiencing rough times.
Even track and field, the top producer of excellent performances, has not been able to come close to maximizing its true potential for success. There is however, much more that glitters about track and field than any other discipline. Not a whole lot that is positive has been going on in boxing, and the locally based organizations that have the responsibility to enhance the sport have come up against hard times.
The Amateur Boxing Federation of The Bahamas (ABFB) is struggling and the inability to put together a fund-raising team has that aspect of the sport facing serious problems. Its one shining light is Carl Hield, the super welterweight/middleweight who is one of the world's elite amateur performers.
The Bahamas Boxing Commission (BBC), through its relationship with the Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC), continues to push for opportunities for Bahamian professional pugilists. The commission has also undertaken a program geared to project the sport in the Family Islands. The next trip is scheduled for Long Island (November 28-30). Commissioner Dr. Munir Rashad is now based in that island. He has coordinated, in conjunction with Local Government authorities, education and sports leaders there, several sessions to be addressed by the commission team, that will be headed by Chairman Alvin Sargent. The commission intends to begin a closer relationship with the islands, being aware of the raw talents to be found in those communities.
The Pan American Caribbean Boxing Organization (PACBO) has been an associate of the local boxing program since its was
established in 2006. The organization came about out of a need for the region to get some middle ground assistance for amateur and professional programs in the member countries (The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and New Jersey-United States). The Bahamas is the base of the PACBO president and gets a big focus accordingly.
PACBO plans to accelerate its program of soliciting and purchasing equipment to continue networking with the other boxing partners toward great skills' development in New Providence and the Family Islands.
The boxing groups lament the state of professional boxing in the country. There was a time, during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, when professional boxing was quite popular. Charlie Major Sr. returned home from New York during the early 1940s and empowered the boxing game through promotions with some of the world's best as headliners. He continued his contribution in quality promotions at his Nassau Stadium for many years before his death in 1980. Douglas Carey and others, collectively, was a big factor at the Birdland. The Oakes Field Hanger became a big part of the arena equation and hosted many legendary matches, particularly between former heavyweight champions Bert Perry and Leonard 'Boston Blackie' Miller.
Wilfred Coakley and Chris Malakious were esteemed promoters who broadened the popularity base of pro boxing. In Grand Bahama, Jim White, the noted businessman, took the sport to further prominence in the country with his regular shows at the King's Inn. Those eras were glorious ones.
It was not difficult to get top line professionals to come into the country to perform against locals and other foreign opponents. The list from the time of Major Sr. included the best of the best, such as Joe Louis, Jimmy Carter, Willie Pep, Floyd Patterson, Bunny Grant, Levi Forte, and many others.
Bahamians who campaigned out of New York and Florida, namely Yama Bahama, Gomeo Brennan, Sugar Cliff, and Bobo Reckley, came back home to meet the best of the locals. Those campaigning and enjoying the high popularity of the sport included Roy Armbrister, Sammy Isaacs, Cleveland Parris, Black Jack, Wilfred 'Battling' Douglas, Ray Minis Sr., Elisha Obed, 'Baby Boy' Rolle, Ray Minus Jr., Cassius Moss, Willie Dawkins, Bert Woods, Ernie Barr, Sammy Barr, Steve Larrimore and more recently, Jermaine Mackey and Meacher Major.
Bahamian boxers made an impression on the world. It began with Yama Bahama who was one of the poster performers at the famed Madison Square Garden during the 1950s and 1960s. His fellow Bimini Islander Gomeo Brennan was the first Bahamian to win an international title. He became the Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight Champion in 1963 and ruled the category on two occasions.
Obed won the only world title (World Boxing Council's junior middleweight crown). Ray Minis Jr., Larrimore and Mackey followed Brennan by winning Commonwealth championships. Sherman 'The Tank' Williams captured Asian titles. Major and Edner Cherry have also won regional crowns. They all contributed to wonderful pages in our sports history.
Now the sport is in great need of a push to an era that could compare with the aforementioned. Hopefully in 2014, the ABFB, the BCB and PACBO will be able to make that happen.
(To respond to this sports feature, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com)

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