By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

COMING off his early exit at the Central American and Caribbean Games last month in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Anai Powell got back on track in his amateur career with a big victory over the weekend.

Powell, who lost to Puerto Rico's Julian Ortiz in the quarterfinals of the men's 65 kilogram at the Combat Pavilion at the CAC Games, pulled off a unanimous decision over Darwin Bertram from Dominican Republic at the 49th Annual Gene Lewis Invitational in Miami on Saturday night.

The 21-year-old, who stands at 6-feet, one-inch, won the Light Out Boxing Invitational title in the process.

"It was pretty good. I was in phenomenal shape after the CAC Games, so I wanted to stay active and get into another fight," said Powell of his 25-year-old opponent who had about 30 fights under his belt. 

"It was a good fight to keep me active and to prepare me for the Pan American Championships in October. I got a standing eight count on him and I knocked out his mouth piece in the final round to secure the victory."

His performance was similar to what he did at the CAC Games, but Powell said taking on an opponent from one of those Spanish-speaking countries, coming from a small country like The Bahamas, you have to win convincingly. 

Powell has been representing The Bahamas on the national team since 2022, but Wellington Miller, president of the newly formed Bahamas World Boxing Federation, said he will become the future for amateur boxing in the country.

"He's a good young boxer, a good prospect," said Miller, a former boxer who is the immediate past president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee.

"Bahamas World Boxing had him in a three-week training camp in Mexico and another one in the Dominican Republic leading up to the CAC Games and he has improved tremendously."

Powell is now preparing for his next appearance at the 2026 Pan American Elite Continental Boxing Championships in Puebla, Mexico, from October 17-24, which will serve as the first major qualifier for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, August 20-29.

"He has the stamina and the determination to go forth," Miller stressed. "He loves training. We love what we have seen from him at Champion Spirit and in Florida where he will be competing a lot."

During COVID-19, Powell said he was watching the sport and got interested. He did his research, learning about the exploits of the late Nathaniel Knowles and current trainer Valentino Knowles and he got inspired by their performances.

"I started training with Ronn Rodgers at the Strikers Boxing Club and then I moved to the United States a year later," said Powell, who is now training at Mundo Boxing Gym in Miami under the tutelage of Pedro Diaz and Vicente Martinez at Champion Spirits in New Providence.

"I think this is the best shape that I've ever been in with the help of coaches Pedro Diaz and Vicente Martinez," Powell said. "I want to thank the Bahamas Olympic Committee, Wellington Miller and the Bahamas World Boxing Federation and Champion Spirit for the investment that they have made in me and my family for supporting me."

He said the training at the Mundo Boxing Gym and Champion Spirit is paying off. 

"My training has just been phenomenal. I got my mile time down, I've been doing sprints, my sparring has been great and I feel great," he said.

"I just need to get some more experience and work on throwing my punches outward. These are the things I need to work on the most. But I'm trying to get both of them up to par now."

In addition to training and competing, the graduate of The Leadership Academy is currently enrolled at Dade College where he's studying dental hygiene in his prerequisite courses and is a boat captain by profession.

Powell, who previously played golf from two to 16 years old and soccer from six to 10, is the only son of Lowrett and Anthony Powell. He has a nine-year-old sister Aria Powell, who is competing in judo and gymnastics.