SPORTS SECTION E
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Boxers off to USA Regionals By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net A THREE-member team from the Bahamas Boxing Academy is heading off today for the USA Regional Amateur Boxing Tournament in Los Angeles, California. The team, consisting of Mario Goddard, Shantao Fernander and Richard Murphy Jr, will be competing at the Alameda County Fairgrounds from November 20-24 in the tournament being organised by the Sugar Bert Boxing Promotions. Goddard, 18, and Fernander, 17, will both be competing in the 132-pound lightweight youth division, while Murphy Jr, 10, will be in the 65-pound pee-wee division. Travelling with the team are international coach Rick Ogden and organiser Scott Lovelock, who are a part of the foreign based team, local coaches Valentino Knowles and
Kieshno Major, secretary Melissa Cleare and manager Andy Ford, a representative form the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. On Monday, Prime Minister Philip 'Brave' Davis and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg showed up to send the team off. They also got to view the facilities being built by an international company led by Nick Maughan, a philanthropist, entrepreneur and investor from the UK and founder of BoxWise. The project is expected to transform the original national gym into a mecca facility where boxers will train, live and compete when it's completed early in the new year. Knowles, who along with Major have transferred their boxers from their Aftershock programme, expressed his profound gratitude to God for making it possible for the boxers to get the opportunity to travel to compete.
"As I reflect on our journey, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the athletes and our entire team for an outstanding job," Knowles said. "These fighters have committed themselves fully to their training, rising early for intense runs and pushing their limits. They have been shaped by countless hours of preparation and sacrifice leading up to this moment, as head coach in preparation for this event I am confident in the overall performance outcome." Knowles said he wants to ensure each of them understand that the victories they seek have already been secured through their 11 weeks of dedication and hard work. "This commitment truly exemplifies the essence of sportsmanship," he said. "The boys have demonstrated that hard work is not merely a slogan, it is a way of life. "The countless hours spent refining their skills and supporting one another
PRIME Minister Philip Davis interacts with amateur boxers Mario Goddard and Shantao Fernander and Richard Murphy Jr (top right). showcase their collective strength. I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of them." Amateur boxing, according to Knowles, goes beyond the pursuit of medals and accolades. He noted that it embodies the resilience shown when faced with challenges. "Each fighter has faced their own set of obstacles and has emerged stronger," he said. "I have full confidence that they will perform exceptionally well
at this event, and I hope they all return victorious. "I have seen the fire in their eyes. We have put in the work, and now it’s time to execute." Knowles expressed his gratitude to the public, the parents of the boxers, who represent the first team representing the new Bahamas boxing academy, which will play a pivotal role in our future endeavours. "I am proud to work with this body as we cultivate a vibrant community and
nurture talent," Knowles said. Major, another member of the coaching staff, said from what he's seen in their training, the three boxers should represent The Bahamas very well this week. "I think they are both physically and mentally prepared. They were training very hard day in and day out, so we are looking for something great coming from them," he stated. "We are just keeping God first." Like Knowles, Major said he's thrilled to be working with BoxingWise. "This is a blessing to us in the amateur boxing community," Major said. "I feel like these guys are genuinely and truly interested in the boxing community here. They are really doing a lot to help the sport. So it's great working along with them." Both Knowles and Major thanked Prime Minister Davis and Bowleg for laying the groundwork that empowers them as coaches to build upon.
Dawn brings home silver By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net EVEN though she didn't go on stage at full strength, Dawn Charlton said she was still pleased with her performance at the International Federation of Bodybuilding's Professional League's 2025 Atlantic Coast Pro Show. Charlton, one of two Bahamians participating in the event over the weekend at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, picked up a silver medal in the women's bikini masters 40-plus category. Also representing The Bahamas at the event was Shakira Ferguson, competing in her first NPC show, won the 40-plus masters title as an amateur and was fifth in the Open Bikini D Class. Charlton, finishing behind American Crystal Omalza and ahead of Cheryl Sweeney, said she
DAWN CHARLTON stepped on stage battling the cold and the effects of a tooth infection. "I travelled on Thursday and from Thursday to Saturday, I was battling with the cold and I had a toothache," she pointed out. "But showday I was fine. I only experienced it again on my way back home."
Competing against 12 competitors, who are among the elite pros, Charlton said she remained in centre stage throughout the comparisons as she ended up with the silver. "The feedback is that they want me a little tighter, which is my conditioning," said Charlton, a 5-foot, 7-inch paralegal assistant by profession. "I have one more show for the year, so I will come in a little tighter and see what happens. Hopefully, I can get first place." Coming off her fourth place finish in her first event at the Daytona Pro in September, Charlton will be back in action on December 6 in Union City, California. "My first show out of the box was in Daytona where I got fourth place," Charlton said. "The second one was second place, so I'm moving up the ladder." Charlton, a former soccer player and
track athlete, once again thanked God, her American coach Paul Riveria, her mother, Mavis Charlton, her friend Elroy Weise, her MacFit training family, including Kenny Mackey and Craig Bowe, her mentor Joel Stubbs, her co-workers at Providence Law and her family and friends for their support. Ferguson, in honouring her mother who is living in Florida as she undergoes chemotherapy treatments, noted that she was extremely pleased that NPC gave her the opportunity to compete in the show. "For me, it was a blessing because I really wanted my mother to see the show," Ferguson said. "She lives in Florida and this was the first time she got to see me on stage. "I was so happy that this show was open and I was able to do it and I brought home some hardware. I got gold," said Ferguson.
Kai on the rise By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net KAI Jones continues to rise in the Euro League since his September 15 signing of a one-year contract with Anadolu Efes for the 2025-26 season. The deal includes an NBA-out clause in January, which is a contractual option that allows Jones to leave the team early if he receives an offer from an NBA team. Through his first five Euro League games with Efes, Jones, 24, averages 4.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks. He has played a total of 70 minutes, starting in three of the five games. In his last Euro League game, he played 16 minutes, scoring four points (2/2 FG) and grabbing six rebounds. Postgame, Jones said: “We are eager to play hard, smart, and together… once we translate the habits… we will reach our full potential.” “So far I like how basketball is played here. It’s really team-oriented, my teammates are great guys, and the atmosphere is fantastic. It’s a very good feeling to belong to a team,” said Jones.
Jones was ruled out of Efes Round 6 game against Fenerbahce due to a severe migraine. But will return in the coming days. “Everything is going great. I’m glad I chose to come here, and the team is playing really well. This is an excellent club, and so far I’m enjoying it.” Jones said in an interview. He also joked about his nickname on the team, “Goat, they all just call me “GOAT.” Jones played college basketball at Texas, where he was named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year. He was selected 19th overall in the 2021 NBA draft by the New York Knicks, then traded to the Charlotte Hornets, where he spent his first two NBA seasons. He also spent time in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm. In March 2024, Jones signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and played for their G League affiliate, Delaware Blue Coats. He would be dropped and later signed with the Los Angeles Clippers where he appeared in 28 games averaging 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds. In March 2025 he joined the Dallas Mavericks where he played 12 games and averaged 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists.