Published On:Thursday, March 18, 2010

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

An historic run for one of the country's top amateur fighters has ended with him achieving the highest honour of any Bahamian fighter ever at one of the region's top events.

Valentino Knowles fought his way to a silver medal finish at the fifth Commonwealth Boxing Championships in India yesterday after he suffered a 6:2 defeat to home favourite Jai Bhagwan in the lightweight division.

Knowles became the second Bahamian fighter to win a medal at the event, joining Taureano Johnson who medalled with a silver in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2003.

It was the second defeat for Knowles against Bhagwan, who defeated him at the 2007 International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) World Championships.

Knowles' road to silver featured a pair of familiar opponents.

In the quarterfinals, Knowles handily got the better of R M A B Gunathilaka of Sri Lanka with a score of 8-2.

In the next round he squared off with Joseph Njogu of Kenya who he defeated last year at the 2009 AIBA World Championships. Knowles took the match 4-2 to advance to the medal round.

The Bahamas was one of 14 countries which participated in the championships and the lone representative from the Caribbean region.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games is also slated to be held in October in New Delhi, India.

Six Indian fighters struck gold at the Commonwealth championships, led by Olympic silver medallist Vijender Singh.

Fellow Bahamian Carl Hield lost to Kenyan "Black Moses" Mathenge, 8-2, in the opening round.