Minister of Grand Bahama Michael Darville recently expressed a desire to work with the national boxing program to the fullest, particularly regarding the sport in his island.
It was at an introductory meeting with the New Providence-based government-appointed body that the minister offered the assistance of his office. The outlook is special for Freeman Thurston, who heads a mixed martial arts program.
He is also the president of the Grand Bahama Amateur Boxing Association and is seeking a way to connect the programs, with guidance. The Bahamas Boxing Commission has heard his cry. Chairman
Alvin Sargent and company pledged to assist Thurston within the guidelines set out for the Commission by the Boxing Act.
In the act, the commission has no authority over mixed martial arts. The request of Thurston could end up being quite revolutionary. With no actual government-designated body to fall under, professional mixed martial arts is sort of in a limbo situation in the country.
Thurston with his overture could very well be laying the foundation for legislators to have a new look at the Boxing Act and make the effort to include mixed martial arts in the portfolio of the commission. MMA encompasses regular boxing as well as other contact art forms.
The approach of Thurston is refreshing and could give him another dimension to utilize as he tries to push the amateur boxing program in Grand Bahama. I see the gesture of Minister Darville as one of sincerity. His ministry and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture might just inspire a resurgence of contact sports in Grand Bahama - professional and amateur boxing, as well as mixed martial arts.
I congratulate Minister Darville and his associates in the Ministry of Grand Bahama, Undersecretary Cecil Thompson, Protocol Chief Dashwell Williams and others. Over at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Deputy Director of Sports for the Northern Region Gladstone 'Moon' McPhee is also very much on board.
He has offered to be the point person to network with the Ministry of Grand Bahama and the boxing/mixed martial arts fraternities on behalf of the commission.
High on the agenda is a proposed big boxing show featuring Sherman 'Tank' Williams, a Grand Bahama native. It would be simply wonderful, if the agents of Williams, representatives of the Ministry of Grand Bahama, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture can get together with the boxing commission to sort out a strategy towards a 'big show' headlining the Bahamian heavyweight champion.
Champ Williams is nearing the end of an excellent career and a couple of shows in Grand Bahama would be quite in order.
The commission plans to do all that is possible under its authority to provide the appropriate environment for Williams to close out his career in grand fashion.

o To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com

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