The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER spending the past two decades on the road fighting, Grand Bahamian Sherman 'The Tank' Williams is finally taking his talent home.

The 46-year-old journeyman is set to headline his own promotional card against Epifanio Mendoza - a 42-year-old Colombian - at the Social Affair and Convention Center in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on Saturday, May 26. Dubbed "Backyard Rumble," the card is expected to feature two other heavyweight bouts, but will showcase amateurs Rashield Williams, Tyrone Oliver and Deangelo Swaby, all in their pro debuts.

Williams, 28, is contemplating turning pro after he failed to advance out of the first round of the men's 64 kilogram class at the Commonwealth Games last month in the Gold Coast, Australia, having lost to Namibia's Jonas Jonas.

"We are pressing forward to May 26 in Grand Bahama. We are building up great excitement and for the first go, we are partnering with Pelican Bay to pull this off," Williams said.

"We are looking to have at least 300 to 500 people from the United States coming here for the event. We will use this platform to showcase some up and coming Bahamian talent and myself will also be headlining the card."

Chris Vendola from Jacksonville, Florida, will take on Terry Porter from Arkansas and Eugene 'Mean Gene' Hill from Dickinson, Texas, who is making his comeback having last fought on August 13, 2016, when he won a TKO over Nick Guivas.

"This has been a long time dream of mine. I've spent a lot of time in Denmark, just seeing how the Danish, Swedish and Irish people are so nationalist," Williams said.

"I just had a burning desire in me to see how big boxing is again in Europe and England and Sweden where they are having fights three times a month and I just felt led to push ahead and bring some boxing activity to the Bahamas and brand Grand Bahama as a sport destination."

In selling Grand Bahama to his associates and friends in the USA, Williams said he got some overwhelming support, especially with the show coming during the Memorial holiday weekend in America, he pushed ahead with his plans.

"This is not the first go around for me, in terms of promotions," Williams disclosed. "I was instrumental in forming Bahamian Suns back in 2003 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium when I defeated Miguel Otero for the vacant World Boxing Association's Fedecaribe heavyweight title.

"That was a new boxing commission put together at the time with Dr Norman Gay as the chairman and that was the official fight. Since then, I was involved in three other fights as a fighter and promoter, the last one was with Titan Bahamas at Clifford Park on ESPN."

Having never fought as a pro in Grand Bahama since he turned pro in 1997, Williams said he felt it's time to take his talent home as he prepare for another chapter in his career.

"I want to showcase the up and coming Bahamian talent, the future Elisha Obeds, Yama Bahamas, the future Ray Minus and the future Sherman 'the Tank' Williams," he projected.

"I also want to establish and make Grand Bahama a possible destination for the boxing activities, rather than always going to Nassau. So Grand Bahama here we come."

In taking the show to Grand Bahama, Williams said the cost factors have skyrocketed because in order to pull off the fight, he and his promotional team have to "bring in every official from the Bahamas Boxing commission out of New Providence.

"That's 10 round trip tickets that we have to provide for judges, referees, doctors and officials," he revealed. "We also have to provide ten hotel rooms for three nights for these officials. This is definitely becoming a challenge.

"We are talking about making different sporting islands a sporting destination, but when you think about it, we are way behind the eight ball. No where in the Northern Bahamas is any recognized or up to date for boxing and many other sports."

While he indicated that they will have to "bite the bullet," he's hoping that in the future, persons will be trained in the various islands to be able to work in the various sports so that they can cut down the cost.

"With clinics, we can easily certificate judges, referees and officials and that way, it will take the burden of promoters who may be looking to take future shows to places like Grand Bahama and the other islands," he stated.

"Right now, we will have to import every official, who will be able to work on the show and that is a big obstacle when you take in consideration that we have to also bring in the fighters from the United States and Canada."

As an independent venture, Williams said they are working on a small budget, but we are relying on corporate Bahamas in Grand Bahama to assist and they have been very receptive so far to their "national pride" that they are trying to create.

"It ain't easy, but I think somebody have to be the trailblazer," he said. "I spoke to a lot of promoters, but the problem in the past has always been the fact that it has been too expensive.

"But I'm in the mind frame where somebody have to make that first step. At this point in my career, I feel that it's definitely necessary and its a privilege and a honor for me to take the risk with the future of the sport at hand."

Williams, at 5-feet, 11-inches, will be fighting for the first time since he won a KO over Mateus Roberto Osorio at the Ceres Arena in Aarhus. Williams, with a 39-15-2 win-loss-draw record, will take on Mendoza, 43-26-1. Mendoza's last fight was on November 4, 2017 when he lost to Rad Rashid in Boellenfalltor-Halle, Darmstadt.