The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FRESH off his victory at the Sugar Bert Boxing Tournament at the Charlotte Harbor Convention Center, Carl Hield is looking forward to making an impact over the remainder of the year.

Back home after winning the only gold medal for the Bahamas in Punta Gorda, Florida, Hield was preparing to get on stage this weekend, but the Bahamas Boxing Federation has postponed the international amateur boxing show to next weekend.

“I will be home until after the show next week,” said Hield, who spent the past few weeks training in West Palm Beach, Florida.

In the meantime, Hield is trying to get some funding to assist him in his travel to St Martin for his next international competition at the Creole Games July 4-6.

Looking back at his performance in Punta Gorda, Hield said he was quite pleased.

“I’m always training, especially during the offseason,” he said. “So anytime something comes up, I am prepared. I was feeling good fighting at the middleweight division, so I think I’m going to stick there.

“Everything went very well. Everyone on the team did their best. Some of them were at their first experience on the international scene, so I felt they did their best. They just need more and more travelling to be better prepared.”

As the most experienced member of the Bahamian amateur boxing programme, Hield said it was good to redeem himself after he lost in the international tournament in Nicaragua.

“I didn’t spend much time in training camp preparing for that tournament,” said Hield, who is based in Cuba where he trains. “I am in a good training camp now and I hope to keep it up until the World Championships in September in Russia.

“I think all of these small tournaments can only prepare me for Russia because at least I will have the opportunity to compete in a number of tournaments to stay in shape and be on the competitive edge.”

The trip to Russia is one that Hield hopes to take in as there are no regional qualifications to compete in. He has moved to West Palm Beach to continue his training as the training school in Cuba is closed for the summer.

“West Palm Beach is the best place for me because I can get sparring with the professionals and world championship contenders,” he said. “There’s nothing like Cuba, but I’m glad I can go there and train.”

While here at home for the next week, Hield said he will be working out at the Strikers Boxing Club, thanks to Ronn Rodgers for affording him the opportunity to work out at his facilities on Wulff Road.

“I appreciate what Ronn is doing for me,” Hield said. “At least I can get in some quality work while I am home.”

In the meantime, Hield said he’s appealing to the public to help assist him in getting to the various tournaments on the agenda this year.

He urged persons interested to get in touch with federation president Vincent Strachan at 426-1113. “Training has been going good. I’m getting some good sparring and glove work over there in West Palm Beach,” Hield said. “Things are going as planned so far.

“Let’s hope things can stay that way up to the World Championships. I hope that we can go to Russia and make some history, me and the one or two other boxers who plan to make the trip. We just need some funding to assist us.”