Lone Bahamas boxer LennoxBoyce to hit the ring today

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Boxers from England and Scotland square off at the Commonwealth Youth Games. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune staff

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE boxing got started yesterday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, Team Bahamas' lone representative - Lennox Boyce - won't compete until today.

Boyce, boxing out of the light welterweight or 64 kilogram division, will square off against Brian Tefo of Botswana in the quarter-final of the 10-man draw. With a win, Boyce will advance to the semi-final to face Lovell Jacob of Wales.

Wellington Miller, who serves as the president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation, said it's unfortunate that they were only able to field a one-man team.

"All of the other boxers we have eligible in this age group category (under-18) have problems with their nationality," said Miller, who is the chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the games.

"We're dealing with the international amateur body and they have rules that govern the sport, so they have to abide by those rules. It's not that we don't have the boxers to compete. It's just that they are not eligible to compete."

Miller said despite the fact that they only have one boxer, the sport has gotten off to a great start. He commended the team that was able to set up the ring in swift time immediately after the completion of judo on day one on Tuesday.

Miller also praised the whole organisation of the games, considering the fact that it was only a year ago that the Bahamas took over from St Lucia, who had to withdraw from hosting the games because of a lack of funding.

"In the short space of time that we worked to pull these games off are remarkable," Miller said. "I think everybody did a fantastic job and we have gotten to produce fantastic games so far."

As Boyce gets set to compete today, national coach Valentino Knowles said he's confident that the Bahamas will be well represented.

"He's been training with me for about two days, but he's enthusiastic and ready to compete," Knowles said.

"He's coached by Ray Minus Jr, who has prepared him for this competition. So I'm looking forward to him doing very well."

Knowles said there are a couple more competitors they were considering to use, but they ran into a problem with them having their passports, which is a requirement for them to compete in the games.

"We have some boxers, but some are either too old, or we have some of them who don't have their passports, so they won't be allowed to compete," Knowles said.

"We only have one competitor, so we have to go with him. I believe that Lennox will do his best in representing the country. He is eager and enthused about competing."