The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LENNOX Boyce continues his rise as the leading amateur boxer in the country and continues to seek local funding as support toward his qualification for the 2020 Olympics.

Boyce recently won his division at the Title Impact Boxing Championships II, Saturday, September 21 in Orlando, Florida when emerged as the winner on the judges' scorecard in the tournament finale against local product Hysom Sabet.

"This fight was an interesting one. In the first round, I was just examining the guy and it was clear he was strong so I just kept my distance and tried to make it a clean fight. One of my coaches Ray Minus Jr always told me to make sure I had clean fights - keep my distance, land clear shots and make the guy miss so the judges can know who is winning - especially when you're fighting in unfamiliar territory. Mr Vincent Strachan, who was my coach for this fight, gave me some great advice, I was able to follow through. In the third he told me to use my right hand a lot and keep my distance and the blows were very effective."

Boyce and his camp intended to participate in this year's edition of the AIBA World Boxing Championships, however, a series of logistical challenges prevented him from making the trip. His attention now shifts to the final qualifying event in March 2020.

Back on the road to Tokyo, Japan for the 2020 Olympics, Boyce plans to continue to train up to March 2020, when the final trials would be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from March 24 to April 5.

"Things happen when they're supposed to happen. Not being able to go to Russia for the qualifiers, I just see that as more time to prepare myself because you can always get better, become stronger, faster, more elusive its the ring and display a different set of skills that places you at another level. If it was meant for me to participate in that event it would have taken place," Boyce said.

"I'm praying hard, asking God to give me the strength, the ability and the mindset to withstand the treacherous work ahead. It's a tough journey and everyday I look forward to bettering myself - whether that's improving hand speed, making my reflexes a bit faster, conditioning, endurance anything to make me a complete boxer. I don't know whether I will have to box my opponent, get into a slugfest and maintain my defense because I never know what kind of opponent I will face."

The 19-year-old Boyce said he patterned his fighting style after Floyd Mayweather - multiple world titleholder who retired with an unblemished 50-0 record.

He plans to attend a series of training camps for the next few months, in preparation for the final qualifier.

"I expect a lot of sparring and being able to work with new fighters I can get a feel for different styles.

"As it relates to coaches I guess they can sharpen the skills I have, but my coaches in the Bahamas have established a good base," he said.

"I'm feeling more conditioned better than ever. I'm working on power drills to get stronger, working on my timing and reflexes because everything plays a role in becoming a better boxer."

Vincent Strachan, president of the Boxing Federation of the Bahamas, accompanied Boyce on his recent trip to Florida. He challenged the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to place a greater emphasis on the development of local boxing talent like Boyce.

"Faced with financial challenges and no support from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture the possibility appeared gloomy. I requested the Director of Sports to pay for flight tickets at Bahamasair from the federation's annual grant, but it was denied as well as other requests made for assistance from the ministry. It was denied because we either sent in the request too late or there is no provision in the budget for such proposal, according to the ministry. Thanks to the Bahamas Olympic Committee and Aliv we were able to accomplish some of our goals over the last year. Even when I requested our annual grant, it took almost a year to receive it," he said,

"Thanks to the family of Lennox Boyce and Mr Eric Gibson, proprietor of Bahama Grills, myself and Lennox were able to get to Orlando."

The next six months for Boyce's training camp is expected to cost approximately $20,000. The federation is also planning an international training programme and boxing show November 5-10 in Nassau with boxers around the region and the USA expected to compete. That event is expected to cost approximately $150,000.

"I invite the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture to become more proactive and show greater interest in Bahamian athletes and to not use personal vendetta against presidents to deny athletes the opportunity to make the Bahamas great again, especially in boxing," Strachan said.

"Lennox is expected to be in camp in Orlando, Florida up to the final trials in March or April 2020. I ask the corporate Bahamas, the government and our citizens to help in our crusade in the development of amateur boxing in the Bahamas."

Contributions can be made at the Boxing Federation of the Bahamas' account at Commonwealth Bank - Wulff Road Branch (Account No. 11000150), at the BOC Office Soldier Road, or Strachan can be contacted at 426-1113.