The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson said the Bahamas has a story to tell for a young man who went from Pinewood Gardens all the way to Madison Square Gardens and demonstrated to the world that he has the potential to become a world boxing champion.

Johnson, who was in New York on Friday night, was referring to newly crowned dual World Boxing Association’s International and World Boxing Council’s Silver middleweight champion Tureano ‘Reno’ Johnson, who stopped Colombian Alex Theran in the fifth round.

“This is the story of a young man, who 40 years after Elisha Obed fought in Paris, France, in 1975 and did the Bahamas very proud,” said Johnson, who led the welcome home reception for Johnson yesterday in the VIP Lounge of the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

“It’s been a little gap for us as a country. We’re always looking for the next inspiring person who will come along. We know we’ve had Yama Bahama, Gomeo (Brennan), Ray Minus and the Tank (Sherman Williams), but we are now seeing the emergence on the international boxing scene, a young man from Pinewood Gardens who went all the way to Madison Square Gardens. I’m sure he’s going to be one of the greatest ever because I was there.”

During the fight, promoted by entertainment mogul Jay Z on his inaugural Roc Nation Sports professional boxing show that was carried live on national television, Johnson said a packed arena saw a splendid display from the 30-year-old Johnson, who took control of the fight from the first two minutes in the first round against the 24-year-old Theran.

Johnson congratulated Johnson and his family, including his parents Ervin and Ikenna Johnson, his wife, Natania and daughter, Tatianna, his coaching staff that included his sister, Kayla and his management team led by Gary Shaw for his spectacular performance in the ring.

In response, Johnson said if it wasn’t for the “Good Lord,” he would not have been in the position that he is in right now. After he thanked his family for their support, Johnson said the road to glory wasn’t an easy one for him.

“I just have to give God thanks. Tears come to my eyes, so if you do see a few drops, it’s just for the passion that I have right now,” he said. “I thank everybody who has been supporting me. The Bahamian public at large, my family, my friends and even strangers who we meet on the street. Thank you all for supporting me.”

However, Johnson expressed his appreciation for Obed, who paved the way for him when he won the WBC light middleweight title over Miguel de Oliveira in 1975 in France before he relinquished it to Germany’s Eckhard Dagge in 1976 when he quit, claiming he had blurred vision.

“I pray that I don’t fall in the footsteps of Elisha where I see myself attaining a world title. That is very likely. I am certain that is going to happen,” said a confident Johnson. “But for the respect and the knowledge that we have on Elisha Obed, I don’t want you all to forget me the way that you have forgotten the man who set the pace for me and the young men who will come behind me. I don’t want that kind of treatment that you all gave him.”

Alvin Sargent, representing the Bahamas Boxing Commission, said they are elated about the performance of Johnson.

“Over the number of years that he has been in boxing, he has continued to demonstrate his desire, determination and commitment to be a world champion,” Sargent said. “He’s just beginning to reap his reward, but we know that this is not the end of it. It’s just the beginning.

“I see him being a world champion because he continues to do whatever is necessary to be a world champion. I only see great things ahead of him and with the support of the Bahamian people, he will be a bright star, whose time is now.”

Working in his corner as one of his coaches, Kayla, the first Bahamian female boxing coach, said they worked on the necessary things to get him ready for Theran and after his sixth round TKO over another Colombian Humberto Toledo on December 14 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, he was able to improve on his mistakes.

“A lot of people were saying that the power wasn’t there, but as you could see, he executed in that area and although we still have a lot of work to do, that fight on Friday against Alex was just like a sparring match for Reno,” Kayla Johnson said. “He was a bit relaxed, but he executed the way he was supposed to.”

Nobody seemed to have enjoyed his performance more than his wife, Natania.

“I’m very proud of him. It’s something that I knew he could always achieve,” she said. “He’s a natural champion, so it was definitely a privilege to stand by his side in and out of the ring. He’s my champion like he always says, so it was definitely an honour to represent him and the country when he went to fight and now we can celebrate his accomplishments.”

No doubt, there’s cause for a whole lot of celebrations and his mother Ikenna said Pinewood won’t be the same over the next few days.

“I can’t explain the feeling that we all had when we watched the fight over there,” she said. “After he told me that he was going to take the guy out in the third round, I was looking for the promise. But after he went the extra rounds, I said ‘ok, I think he just wants to put on a show so he gave the show up to the sixth round.

“That win for me was fantastic. Now I know that he is ready to go to the next level in his boxing career. We’re going to celebrate this accomplishment, but we know that there are plenty more to come in the future because everybody was telling us and telling him that he has the potential to become a world champion.”

Immediately following the welcome reception, Johnson was escorted to his alma mater at CV Bethel Secondary High School. Today, he’s due to appear in the House of Assembly and will be feted to lunch. A number of trips are also scheduled to the Family Islands for Johnson before he returns to the United States to prepare for his fight.