The Tribune

BIRMINGHAM, England — With their competition expected to start today at the NEC Building, the two-man team of Carl Hield and Rashield Williams both indicated that it’s now or never for them to get through the rounds and ascend the podium.

In the case of Hield, who will be the first in action on Saturday, he’s aiming for his second games’ medal, while Williams, who will be fighting as a professional, will be seeking his first medal on the global stage.

The duo, along with Vincent Strachan, the president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation who will serve as the team coach, were quite relaxed yesterday at their games village site at the Hilton Hotel just before the start of the opening ceremonies.

Also present with them were chef de mission Roy Colebrook, who has direct responsibility for the entire 26-member team representing the Bahamas in boxing, swimming, cycling, judo, wrestling, track and field and triathlon.

Hield, a bronze medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in London, England, gave God thanks for giving him the strength and the Bahamas for allowing him to make his fifth appearance.

“There’s not a lot of boxers around, so I have to keep the flag going until some of the younger boxers come along,” Hield said. “Until I reach 40, that will be the last chance for me to compete until some of the younger boys can step it up and carry the flag.”

At age 35, Hield said it seems as if he found the fountain of youth in his training sessions in Miami, Florida, with the Cubans before he went to Kansas City for a week where he was able to get in two sparring sessions.

“I think my preparation was good and my technique is good. It’s just about going into the ring and execute the plans. Whatever the results, you have to live with it,” he said. “But my goal is to execute to win. I’m looking to get my second Commonwealth Games medal.

“I have to get into the finals and go for the gold or the silver. I have a bronze medal, so I have to change that colour. The last games, I didn’t get the judges’ decision, so I’m planning not to leave it up to the officials.”

Hield will be fighting out of the round of 32 in the light middleweight category or 67-71 kilogram against Abdul-Afeez Osoba from Nigeria. He said he’s not concerned about who his opponent is.

“When you reach into the ring, it’s a whole different ball game,” Hield said. “When we get into the ring and he can’t adapt and I can adapt, he will get beat. I just have to execute my game plan that I was working on for the past two months.”

With Williams joining him, Hield said he’s delighted to have him on the team and with the “good food, massage and some good sleep,” he feels they will do very well. He added that having their hotel in walking distance to the arena is a plus for their preparation for the games.

The 32-year-old Williams, making his third appearance at the games and the first since pros were allowed to compete, said he’s mentally and physically prepared and he is confident that at the end of competition, he should be able to claim one of the medals.

“My conditioning is good. I had a good training camp in Miami, Florida and I’m ready to go,” Williams said. “I just have to make sure that my weight is right and once I do, I will do some damage.”

Dropping down from the welterweight division to the light welterweight, Williams will have to wait until Sunday before he steps into the ring. He will take on the winner of Saturday’s bout between Jonas Junias of Namibia and Colin Caleb of Nauru.

“It doesn’t matter who comes forth. I just have to step in the ring and do my best,” Williams said. “I just want to step in the ring and I know I will get a medal. I’m not concerned about nothing. I am ready to go.”

Williams said Hield, whom he considers to be a “clown,” will be competing together once again, but this time they are anticipating leaving Birmingham with some hardware.

Strachan concurred with both boxers, indicating that he too is confident that they will medal.

“They have been preparing themselves well over the last several months and seeing what I am seeing now, I am confident that we would do remarkably well in this tournament,” Strachan said. “The food is great, so it makes it better because the boxers are in a great frame of mind.”

With the boxers not competing until Saturday and Sunday, Strachan said both Hield and Williams will continue to be on the cutting edge so that they can go into the ring and represent the country to the best of their abilities.

Colebrooke said he expects nothing but the best from the team.

“Everyone is in good spirits. That’s one of the key elements of the games,” Colebrooke said.

“When they feel good is when they perform good. I believe all of the conditions of the games at this time is very good for the boxers.

“Their training will now have to speak for itself. There’s no more preparations. This is the time to go into the ring and execute their plans. I can tell you one thing, I will be outside of the ring, so that’s a double fight they will have.”

Colebrooke, however, said he’s not just looking for a great showing from boxing, but all of the disciplines for the Bahamas at the games that will run through August 7.

“I expect for us to bring back some hardware in boxing,” Colebrooke said. “They can set the stage for the rest of Team Bahamas if they can get on the podium and win a medal.”