The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

RONALD Woodside suffered an opening loss as the Bahamas’ three-member team started competition Monday at the Independent Cup in the Dominican Republic.

But head coach Andre Seymour is confident that the team will have some success today as Rashield Williams and Keshno Major swing into action.

In his match, Woodside lost 3-0 to Johnathon Cruz in the featherweight division or 66 kilo-class. Despite his defeat, Seymour said he felt Woodside gave a good account of himself.

“I feel proud of him. He fought extremely well,” said Seymour, who is assisted by Kayla Johnson. “The guy just beat him. But he did very well. He hasn’t fought in almost two years, so I like his performance. I feel very proud of him.”

Woodside, 21, said it was a tough loss for him to digest.

“It was a good fight. I fought well. I felt I was winning in the end, but I just came up short,” he said. “It just didn’t go my way. That’s the way I feel. I felt I won it in the end, but when you are fighting hometown boxers, it’s not easy. But I felt as if I won the fight.”

Woodside said he is now pulling for Major and Williams to come through in their bouts. Today, Major and Williams will be fighting in the medal round of the super heavyweight and welterweight divisions respectively. Major will take on Ramirez Edgar, while Martinez Jackson from the Dominican Republic will square off with Williams.

The duo will have to win in order to secure the Bahamas medal(s) at the tournament.

“Our aim is to try to get these two medals,” Seymour said. “Both of these guys are ready. They have been working hard, so I expect them to perform very well. They are in good condition, so I expect them to perform very well. But one thing they will have to do is let their hands go. They can’t keep nothing back because they are not using the head gear anymore.”

Williams, 24, said he’s definitely ready.

“I am just going to stick to my game plan because I’m going to be fighting a hometown boy,” he said. “I have to beat him, I have to beat the judges and I have to beat the crowd. So I have to go out there and fight everybody.”

Looking at the competition after watching the first night, Williams admitted that it’s not a walk in the park for anybody because all of the competitors are coming prepared to compete.

“There are a lot of good fighters here,” he stated. “I just have to stick to my game plan and be prepared to fight.”

Welterweight Godfrey Strachan was also scheduled to travel, but he didn’t make the trip.