By Andrew Coakley

FN Sports Editor

It's very rare that a first time athlete can compete in an international event and come away with a medal.

So, it was seen as a big accomplishment when two Grand Bahamian boxers from Genesis Boxing Club took part in the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association Championships (CABA) in Trinidad and came back home with silver medals.

Kellen Missick, fighting in his first international fight, weighed in at 70 kilos and fought his way all the way to the finals, which he lost by points, but was still able to pick up the silver medal.

Andrae Stewart, also of Genesis Amateur Boxing Club, may have been out of his league for his first fight as an amateur, but he fought well enough to also pick up a silver medal.

"That says a lot for Genesis Boxing Club and for coach Arthur Missick," said Terry Goldsmith, an executive with the Grand Bahama Boxing Association.

"To have two young fighters in their first time out come back with silver medals is a big accomplishment.

"I have to give credit to coach Missick for taking these boxers this far and for taking them to that level."

The Bahamas was represented by four young boxers, two out of Nassau and two out of Grand Bahama, with Leonard "Boston Blackie" Miller as the head coach, and Grand Bahama's Arthur Missick as assistant coach.

One of the boxers out of Nassau, Ronald Woodside, a seasoned boxer, returned home with a gold medal in his division.

Goldsmith said that the Association is extremely proud of the two boxers who represented Grand Bahama and The Bahamas. This accomplishment, he said is an indication that a revival of amateur boxing in Grand Bahama is on its way.

"We are on the road back to where we used to be in the 70s and the 80s when we dominated amateur boxing in The Bahamas and in Florida," said Goldsmith.

"This achievement proves that we're on the way back to bringing back to life amateur boxing in Grand Bahama."

The accomplishment may have been just as shocking for members of the public as the idea that amateur boxing had reached such a high level in Grand Bahama.

Many boxing fans and members of the Grand Bahama public have been complaining about a lack of amateur boxing on the island and some even doubted if the new boxing association really existed.

"We are here, alive and well and this proves just how much work has gone into training local amateur boxers," said Goldsmith.

"The Association has plans for hosting a number of amateur fights this year, but we're in the process of trying to secure a major sponsorship so that we can purchase the proper ring that is needed to host amateur fights.

"If we can get a ring, we can put on shows."

Goldsmith said that he recently had a meeting with president Barr of the Association and while he expressed how proud he was of the accomplishment of the two boxers, he is also aware of the need to have local boxers compete in more fights.

He said that the Association has not gone to sleep, but is working on a few big projects that would help bring back amateur boxing in a big way in Grand Bahama.

As a side note, Goldsmith said that he and executives of the Association were disappointed in the fact that during the visit of the newly appointed Sports Minister to Grand Bahama, no one from the Association was invited to be a part of the meeting which the Minister had with all sporting heads on Grand Bahama.

While they view the non invitation to the Minister's meeting as a slap in the face, Goldsmith said that he looks forward to working with Minister Bannister to not only bring back amateur boxing to Grand Bahama, but to take it beyond the level it used to be in the past.

Goldsmith feels that the Grand Bahama Amateur Boxing Association is not treated like it should be by the powers that be and he's hoping to see that trend change.

"I don't think that we are recognised fully as we should be, and we're still treated as the poor relatives of the sporting world, but I'm looking forward to all of that changing in the future," added Goldsmith.