By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sport Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IN a bid to revitalise and improve the level of officiating in the sport of boxing in the country, Bahamas Boxing Federation president Vincent Strachan hosted a training clinic in Grand Bahama over the weekend.

The event, the first of its kind to be staged in Grand Bahama under Strachan’s tenure in office, was held at the Cross Fit Gymnasium and was dubbed a success.

“This is the most updated and current rules and regulations issued by AIIBA and Grand Bahama is the first to receive it,” Strachan said. “Mr (Jermaine) Gibson, the president of the Grand Bahama Amateur Boxing Association, is doing a phenomenal job with his team and I’m encouraged by what they are doing.

“And so we were able to start this and complete it today. It’s a testament to what is being done in Grand Bahama.

“It is my hope that we continue to do these kinds of training throughout the Bahamas to ensure that there is a level playing field and that it is not just Nassau centric.”

The clinic comes just before the staging of the sixth Bahamas Games in July in New Providence and, with boxing being one of the sports on the mini multiple-purpose sporting extravaganza, Strachan said it’s the federations wish that as many islands are brought up to speed on the new rules and regulations for the sport.

“The way forward is that boxing will continue to grow and indeed it is growing,” he said.

“I’m amazed at the rapid pace that I see it growing here in Grand Bahsmas. So I am happy to be here today to ensure that this event becomes a reality. It was indeed a reality.”