Boxers clash in 22nd ‘Sonny Boy’ Rahming Silver Gloves

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Champion Amateur Boxing Club hosted its 22nd Annual Wellington ‘Sonny Boy’ Rahming Silver Gloves tournament at Wulff Road Boxing Square over the weekend.

The card featured five bouts on the night featuring national team boxers and some of the top clubs in the Bahamas.

In matches that counted toward win-loss records, Kevin Barr defeated Brian Poitier after the referee stopped the contest in the second round. In one of the most keenly contested matches of the night, Davian Smith defeated Don Rolle on points - 25-23.

In his national team debut, Smith recently won bronze in the 81-kilo class at the 2016 edition of the Caribbean Development Boxing Tournament hosted in Bridgetown, Barbados, last December.

The award for “Best Fight” went to the exhibition bout between Junior Orvil and Lenroy Rolle, Kevin Barr was named the “Most Improved Boxer,” Smith was named the “Most Outstanding Boxer” and the After Shock Boxing Club, coached by Valentino Knowles, won the “Sonny Boy” Rahming Trophy.

Special thanks were extended to the D’Albenas Agency Limited, Wallace Whitfield & Co, Commonwealth Bank, Ron’s Electric, Wally’s Party Time Furniture, Nirvana Beach and Bahamas Vision Centre.

“I want to thank all of our sponsors for making it possible and helping CABC get back on track hosting events. Boxing is in great need of consistency and development and I just want to thank them for recognising that,” said CABC Director Ray Minus Jr.

‘Sonny Boy’ Rahming was a very well-known local fighter during the “golden years” of professional boxing.

In the ring, he squared off with the likes of Yama Bahama, Gomeo Brennan and Boston Blackie.

Following a career in the ring, he turned to training and mentoring generations of young boxers on the local scene and helped to hone the skills of some of the country’s best fighters.

Minus said Rahming was a special case because of the attention and focus he gave to underprivileged young men from around the local community.

He also added that the local amateur boxing community has been in discussions to increase the frequency of events and opportunities for promising fighters to qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

“We know that we can produce Olympic prospects because we have already done it. We feel like we can continue to keep these young men focused on the Olympics and give them the hope to achieve that goal of getting to the Olympics.

“Once they have the talent, we want to give them the opportunity,” he said. “That’s why we have been talking to get things going again because we want those boxers to start preparing in their minds and preparing physically for the 2020 Olympics.

“These same boys around the ages of 15, 16 and 17-years-old, they will have the experience under their belts to qualify for the Bahamas team.”