By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS they prepare for a major fundraiser this weekend to assist him with his medical expenses, Ray Minus Jr said he appreciates the support from the Bahamian public during his illustrious boxing career that included three epic match-ups against former sparring partner Quincy ‘Thrill-A-Minute’ Pratt.

A committee headed by his daughter, Rayshell Minus-Rolle, is planning to host a curbside souse-out on Saturday from 7am to noon in the JEMS Plaza on Horse Shoe Drive off Nassau Street opposite Commonwealth Bank.

With a projected target of $10,000, tickets are priced at $10 for chicken souse and pig feet and $15 for sheep tongue souse with all proceeds going to assist Minus Jr in regaining his strength in his right arm, which has him disabled and will need extensive therapy to restore his muscle.

If the support he got from the Bahamian people when he fought as the premier bantam and lightweight champion not only in the Bahamas, but also in the British Commonwealth, Minus Jr said he would be eternally grateful.

“He had a dry sprit to become the champion,” Minus Jr recalled. “All of a sudden, I was challenged by Quincy. During some of the sparring sessions, it was really competitive, so I knew when we fight, it was going to be a fight.”

Pratt, having lost the first two encounters, in 1992 and 1999, emerged victorious when they fought for the third and final time in 2000.

“Our rivalry was sweeter than any we have ever had in boxing,” Pratt said. “That first fight in 1992, I would say I don’t think any other local fight could top that. That night, I will never forget that. I wanted to contest the loss because I realised that the referee was in charge of the fight. He could stop it at any time.

“But according to the rules, if a fighter is hurt, the referee should give him a chance to recover. The fight was so exciting and with so much hype, when Ray hit me with the left hook, I went on the ropes. His corner was so happy. Before Cyril Smith came and gave me the eighth count, all of his people rushed into the ring.”

Smith stepped in and signalled the end.

While they would go on and compete against each other two more times, Minus Jr’s career was highlighted by three appearances in the ring for a world title shot, all of which he lost.

However, he established himself as the British Commonwealth bantamweight and lightweight champion.

“Just falling short of not achieving that world title put me in a position where I was able to control all of the other title fights that I had,” Minus Jr reflected.

“So many of my opponents, I was able to beat and not allow them to get set for a world title fight.

“I believe I did a good job. I was blessed by the Queen (Elizabeth) in 1989 when she recognised me as the Commonwealth Boxer of the Year,” he recalled. “I was very pleased for her to honour me with that achievement. That was very great. It was well promoted in the Commonwealth. So I want to say thank you to her.”

Looking back at his career, Minus Jr said while many were thrilled with his match-ups against Pratt, his greatest moments came when he fought for the world titles.

“Going after the world title fight is one of the biggest achievements for any boxer,” Minus Jr said. “You have to be ready for that. A little nervousness could cause you to lose. you make one little mistake and you get hit and just like that, you could lose ground and eventually the fight.”

Having put up gallant efforts in all of his fights, Minus Jr said his ultimate goal was to get a rematch with Miguel ‘Happy’ Lora after he lost his first world title shot in 1987 in Miami, Florida for the World Boxing Council’s bantamweight title.

But the re-match never materialised.

“I felt I messed up in that one, but they never made it happen after that,” he said. “I had one shot against Happy Lora and I blew it.”

Minus Jr, 56, recalled how he also fought and lost to Israel Contreras in 1990 here at the Crystal Palace for the World Boxing Organisation’s bantamweight title and a year later in 1991 in Laredo for the International Boxing Federation bantamweight title against Orlando Canizales.

On the other side of the spectrum, Minus Jr said if there was any disappointment, it would be the fact that accidents happen in training programmes, athletes get injured, but nobody says anything about it and nobody knows about it.

“Sometimes, you go forward into the fight and you’re fully ready,” he stated. “A couple of fights happened like that. Of course, I won a couple of them, but there were some that I wasn’t fortunate to win. None of them were against Quincy. I was on a mission. At no condition, I wasn’t going to let Quincy whip me.”

With his father Ray Minus Sr, another legendary fighter who fought against Bahamian world champion Elisha Obed, as his coach, Minus Jr said they developed what could be considered the greatest father/son tandem in local sports.

“My father, I always had the respect for him,” he said.

“My father was there for me. My father was a very good coach. He taught me some things, helped me to be creative in my fights. That is what I was able to continue with as I started to develop some of the great young fighters who came along behind me.”

Among the list of Minus Jr’s protégés were Meacher ‘Pain’ Major, Jermaine ‘Chu Chu’ Mackey, Jerry ‘Big Daddy’ Butler, Elkena ‘the Punisher’ Saunders, Damian ‘the Blade’ Tinker, Richard ‘the Hammer’ Pitt, Shimon ‘Too Sweet’ Bain, Ryan ‘Big Youth’ McKenzie, Alpachino ‘Banger’ Allen, Wilson ‘Kid Wonder’ Theophile and David Wallace, just to name a few.

In addition to Minus Jr, the 81-year-old Minus Sr also had the opportunity to raise two other boxers in heavyweight Renaldo ‘the Terminator’ Minus and middleweight Kenny ‘Lightning” Minus, who together, all held their respective titles at the same time.

Eric Minus also competed, but he didn’t reach the status as a light heavyweight champion.

Pratt, coming out of the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys, once known as the Boys Industrial School, was also a part of the Minus camp before he launched his attack to take over the reigns from Minus Jr.

But he said the sport of boxing made him the man he is today and he owes a great deal of appreciation to Minus Jr.