It was just over a month ago when a Nassau Guardian lead story in the sports section reported that the national amateur boxing program in the country was in shambles due to the poor state of the boxing gym at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, and the non-existence of power. Well, national boxing coach Andre Seymour called for light, and there was light. Days after the article was published, leaders in government ministries and agencies moved swiftly and power was restored at the national boxing gym of The Bahamas.

A light was installed on the outside as well, some of the boxing bags were fixed, and the area was cleaned up. Seymour said that they are extremely grateful for the improvements that were made, but added that they still have a long way to go. "I'm so happy to see that order is restored - the atmosphere is great and we thank you guys for that. You got the word out there for us, and now there is progress," said Seymour.

"We were prepared to go further, but thankfully there was a response and the lights are on. Everyone is happy now." About 15-20 young boxers train at the gym three days per week - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - and most of them step into the ring on Saturdays for regular boxing tournaments. It's safe to say the program is up and running again. A tournament is set for this Saturday, starting at 5:30 p.m., at the national boxing gym. "We're looking to have these tournaments on a regular basis so it was important for us to get the lights on and get everything at the gym up to par," said Symonette.

"It's still not in the kind of condition that it needs to be in but it's good enough where we can now have regular tournaments. We've set up a ring out back and the light out there allows us to go into the night. The light gives us much more leverage in terms of time. "At the end of each month we want to have a tournament. We're trying to take that straight out to the end of the year. We're also looking to take part in Ray Minus' tournament (L. Garth Wright Golden Gloves Tournament).

Not only that, but come next year we'll be looking to get foreign boxers to come in here and train with our boxers. We're also looking for our boxers in Cuba to come home and train, if only for a brief time. They want to come home and box, and we want to have them here. Everything needs to be in order for these things to happen, and we are on the right track." Before it was recently turned on, there was no power in the national gym for over a year and there was no light at the back of the gym where the outside ring is located. Both issues have been addressed.

"We have to thank the Sports Authority as well. They are the ones who are responsible for us having light so we are grateful to them," said Seymour. "This is home to us. This is the only place set up for us. We have nowhere to go. The gym is already here and the ring is set up on the outside, and another one on the inside, so the only way we could go from here is further and further ahead.

How it's set up now, it's ideal for the family to come out and watch their kids in competition, even if the events go into the night," he added. Seymour said that youngsters from age nine to 18 train at the boxing gym on a regular basis. The ones out of school come on a daily basis. He and the boxers are extremely grateful for the work that has been done to improve the gym, but Seymour added that there is still a lot of work to be done for the gym to be in tip top shape.

The floors are still cranky and unstable, and there are still some cracks in the wall. Some of the boxing equipment still needs work as well. Be that as it may, Seymour said that they will continue to develop the young boxers in the country in hopes of producing future Olympians. Taureano Johnson made headlines four years ago as a Bahamian boxing sensation at the Beijing Olympic Games. He was the first Bahamian in 20 years to qualify for the Olympics, and took it a step further by winning two matches at that level. This year, two Bahamians (Carl Hield and Valentino Knowles) fell short in their hopes of qualifying for the London Olympic Games. They faltered at the only regional qualifier.

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