The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Ronn Rodgers, a product of the Champion Amateur Boxing Club, has returned home and decided to make his contribution to the development of the sport by opening his own boxing club.

On Saturday night at the Golden Gates Shopping Center, the former light-heavy and heavyweight competitor officially opened the Strikers Boxing Club, which has been in existence for the past month.

A few bouts were on the schedule, featuring competitors from Inagua, Champion Amateur Boxing Club, Baillou Hills Boxing Club and the Golden Gates Boxing Club as the Strikers Club began the first ranking system for all of the boxers that participate in their shows.

In the main event on the night, CJ Johnson from Inagua won a third round technical knockout over Don Rolle from the Champion Amateur Boxing Club. Also, Kendrick Stuart of the Strikers won a decision over Donovan Taylor from Champion Amateur Boxing and Tyrone Oliver from the Strikers won a third round TKO over Hill.

The club is open 9am to 8:30pm Monday to Friday. While Rodgers serves as the personal trainer and coach, the manager is Ayako Nakashima.

“After being off to school and watching how things were being done professionally, when I came home, I decided to bring some of that level of professionalism here,” said Rodgers, who went on to excel in both football and track and field while living in the United States.

“I was thinking about track and field, but you can’t house that in any building. I tried football, helping some children get off to school, but that was also weather permitting.

“So after trying the three sports that I competed in, boxing turned out to be the best one that I could get started right away with the funding that I had available. So I went ahead and opened the boxing gym.”

Rodgers, who compiled a 78-7 win-loss record during a boxing career which spanned from 1985-2000, said he’s appreciative of the introduction to the sport that he got from Ray Minus Jr and Sr in Champion Amateur Boxing Club and now he’s grateful that he can pass on his expertise to the youngsters.

“It’s been really good,” said Rodgers of the club’s early existence. “We have two of the best boxers in the country in Kendrick Stuart in the 120 and Tyrone Oliver in the 140 class.

The public can look forward to watching the two compete on Friday night in the professional boxing show at the CI Gibson Gymnasium that will feature Meacher ‘Pain’ Major against Anthony ‘Pyscho’ Wood for the Bahamas lightweight title.

The Strikers Club will participate in the Champion Amateur Boxing Club on July 6, followed by another show by the Strikers Club on July 13.

Sometime in September, Rodgers said the Strikers Club is expected to host a five-member team from Nigeria, some of whom have competed at the Commonwealth Games.

SUMMER CAMP

In an effort to provide an opportunity to develop the skills of some of the young boxers in the country, Rodgers said the Strikers Club is scheduled to hold a Summer Boxing Camp, starting from July 1, and will run for five weeks. The event will be held daily from 9am to noon and 1-4pm.

“Right now there is a stereotype to boxing because a lot of parents don’t want their children to get involved because of the injury factor, but that is something that happens in all sports,” Rodgers said. “We’re just trying to show people that as long as you learn the sport the correct way with the right guidance, that stereotype is broken.”

One of the things they hope to instill in the minds of the parents is the fact that boxing is one of the sports that actually pays the boxers to compete professionally and they don’t have to go off to achieve it.

“We’re just trying to erase the stereotype and just like basketball, football or karate, boxing is a discipline sport that allows the boxers to travel,” he said.

“We’re also trying to revive the sport because right now, Ray Minus Jr is really the only one out there doing something on a consistent basis. We need to provide more avenues for the boxers to train and compete in the sport.”

Interested persons can contact the club at 357-5533.