The Bahamas is known for its beautiful beaches and stunning scenery, but it is also home to some of the best boxers in the world.
With great athletes like Sean “The Rock” Calhoun, Ralston “The Razor” Pinder, and Antonio “The Ace” Johnson, the Bahamas has a rich history of boxing champions.
These three athletes have all made a name for themselves in the boxing world, and have earned their place among the best boxing players in the islands.
From professional championships to Olympic gold medals, these athletes have proven that the Bahamas can produce world-class boxers.
1. Elisha Obed
Everette Ferguson BEM, more commonly known by his boxing name of Elisha Obed, was a Bahamian light middleweight boxer.
Throughout his career in the sport, he achieved many impressive feats, most notably becoming the only professional world boxing champion in history to originate from the Bahamas.
He earned his title in 1981 when he defeated American boxer Charles Hostetter to become the WBC world light middleweight champion.
In recognition of his success, he was awarded the British Empire Medal, an honor given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to their local community or the wider world.
It was a fitting reward for his accomplishments in the world of boxing, as his victory made him a national hero in his home country. His legacy lives on in the Bahamas today. Obed is remembered as a boxing legend, and his victory is celebrated as a source of national pride.
He inspired many in the country to take up the sport and become involved in the boxing community. His impact in the sport and influence in his home country will never be forgotten..
2. Ray Minus
Ray Minus was a professional boxer from the Bahamas who had a career spanning from the 1980s to the 2000s. He fought in five different weight classes: Bantam, Super Bantam, Feather, Super Feather and Light Welterweight.
Throughout his career, Ray earned a number of titles and awards, including the Bahamas Lightweight Title and the Bahamas Light Welterweight Title. He also held several regional titles in the Caribbean region.
Ray was known for his aggressive and powerful style, which he used to great effect to knock out his opponents. He was also known for his determination and resilience, often coming back from tough situations to win fights.
Ray was highly respected in the boxing world, as he was always willing to take on any challenger. Over the course of his career, Ray Minus faced some of the best fighters in the world, and he had many memorable fights.
He often fought in the Bahamas, and when he did, it was often a packed house, as fans were always excited to see him compete. Ray was an inspiring figure for many aspiring boxers and was an integral part of the Bahamian boxing scene.
He earned the respect of many in the boxing world throughout his career, and his legacy will continue to be remembered.
3. Tureano Johnson
Taureano Dexter Johnson is a professional boxer from the Bahamas. He has achieved a great deal of success in his career, winning the WBC Silver middleweight title in 2015.
This is a prestigious title that is highly sought after by many professional boxers. Before his professional career, Johnson had established himself as a successful amateur boxer. He qualified for the 2008 Olympics, which is an impressive feat for any boxer.
This experience gave him a solid foundation to build upon once he began his professional career. Johnson’s success as an amateur boxer is a testament to his dedication and commitment to the sport.
Despite the competitive nature of professional boxing, Johnson was able to remain focused and determined to reach the top of his division. His achievement of winning the WBC Silver middleweight title in 2015 is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport.
4. Edner Cherry
Edner Cherry is a professional boxer hailing from the Bahamas. He is an accomplished athlete who has earned himself a distinguished place in the world of boxing. He has been a two-time world title challenger, meaning he has competed in two separate World Title fights.
His record demonstrates his strength and prowess as he has fought and won many championship matches. His style of boxing is a blend of traditional boxing skills combined with his own unique approach.
He has become a favorite among boxing fans for his exciting and entertaining performances. His rise to fame has been an inspiring journey for many aspiring boxers. He is an example of what can be achieved with hard work, dedication and a passion for the sport.
5. Freeman Barr
Freeman Barr is a former professional boxer from the Bahamas. He was an active competitor from 1993 to 2010, and in 1999 he had an opportunity to compete for the WBO middleweight title.
Barr was known for his skill and agility in the ring, and he had an impressive career as a professional fighter. He was well respected in the boxing community and was a formidable opponent for any fighter.
Throughout his career, Freeman Barr challenged for titles several times and was considered to be amongst the elite class of boxers in the world. He was an inspiration to many of the younger aspiring boxers and always had a positive attitude and outlook in the ring.
Barr will always be remembered for his hard work and dedication to the sport of boxing.
6. Gomeo Brennan
Gomeo Brennan was an esteemed professional boxer from the Bahamas who competed in the welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight divisions throughout the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.
He made his mark in the boxing world by earning the Commonwealth middleweight title and becoming a legitimate challenger for the world title in his respective weight class. During his career, Gomeo fought some of the most renowned boxers of his time.
He took on the likes of Bob Foster, Emile Griffith, and Jose Torres, all of whom were considered to be some of the best in their respective divisions.
He even had a chance to fight for the world title against Bob Foster, but the bout was called off due to a fracture in Gomeo’s left hand. Gomeo Brennan was widely respected for his determination and skill in the ring.
He was known for his great hand speed and footwork, as well as his iron chin which allowed him to take a great deal of punishment without being seriously injured. The Bahamas is proud of Gomeo Brennan and the legacy he left behind.
He is remembered by boxing fans all over the world as one of the greatest boxers of the 1960s and 1970s and is an inspiration to many aspiring boxers today.
7. Valentino Knowles
Valentino Knowles is a former professional boxer from the Bahamas. He had a successful career in the sport, spanning over 15 years. He was known for his speed and agility in the ring and was considered one of the best boxers to come out of the Bahamas.
He held several regional titles and earned a great deal of respect from fans and other fighters alike. Knowles first began boxing at the age of 11, and by the time he was 16 he had won his first title fight. He was a natural in the ring, and quickly rose to fame.
He was known for his aggressive style, which always kept his opponents on their toes. Knowles was an inspiration to many in his home country and was an ambassador for the sport of boxing in the Bahamas. Knowles’ career came to an end in 2020 after a long and successful career.
He retired from the sport with an impressive record of 30 wins, 6 losses, and 4 draws. He was also a two-time regional champion. Despite his retirement, Knowles remains an icon in the Bahamas and is remembered fondly for his achievements in the sport.
8. Nat Knowles
Nat Knowles is a talented Bahamian boxer who achieved considerable success on the international stage. Knowles competed in the men’s middleweight event at the 1972 Summer Olympics, showcasing his impressive athletic ability.
His hard work and dedication were rewarded two years later when he won a silver medal at the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games.
This impressive achievement demonstrates the high level of competition that Knowles was able to overcome and his ability to perform under pressure.
It is clear that Nat Knowles is an incredibly talented athlete who has deservedly earned his place in the pantheon of great Bahamian boxers.
9. Andre Seymour
Andre Seymour is a Bahamian boxer who has competed in two Olympic Games, the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics. At the 1984 Summer Olympics, he faced off against Oppe Pinto of Paraguay. Unfortunately, Seymour lost the match to Pinto, ending his run at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Despite this setback, he returned to the 1988 Summer Olympics in an attempt to win a medal for his country. Despite his best efforts, Seymour was not able to achieve a podium finish.
However, his dedication and bravery in the face of adversity is to be admired, and his efforts should be commended.
10. Sherman Williams
Sherman Alexander Williams is a Bahamian professional boxer who competes in the heavyweight division.
He is well-known for his impressive resume of opponents, which includes former world champions and contenders Evander Holyfield, Ruslan Chagaev, Joseph Parker, Gerald Washington, Robert Helenius, Manuel Charr, Jameel McCline, Obed Sullivan, and Alfred Cole. Williams has faced some of the most formidable opponents in the sport, many of whom have been world champions in their own right.
His impressive list of opponents includes Evander Holyfield, who won the undisputed heavyweight championship in 1990, and Ruslan Chagaev, who held the WBA heavyweight title from 2007 to 2009.
Williams also faced Joseph Parker, who held the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018, and Gerald Washington, who held the WBC heavyweight title in 2017. In addition to his fights with champions and contenders, Williams also fought Robert Helenius, Manuel Charr, Jameel McCline, Obed Sullivan, and Alfred Cole.
All of these opponents have been ranked in the top 10 of the heavyweight division at some point in their careers, making them all formidable opponents. Williams has shown tremendous courage and determination in the ring, facing some of the greatest fighters of the modern era.
His commitment to excellence and his willingness to put it all on the line have made him one of the most respected heavyweights in the sport.
11. Jermain Mackey
Jermain “Choo Choo” Mackey is a Bahamian professional boxer who has been competing since the early 2000s. He has had a successful career, having won a number of titles in his weight class.
In particular, he has won the Bahamas super middleweight title, the World Boxing Council Caribbean Boxing Federation super middleweight title, and the World Boxing Council FECARBOX super middleweight title. Mackey is an experienced fighter who has competed in numerous bouts throughout his career.
He is well known for his flowing and unpredictable style, often catching opponents off guard. Mackey has a reputation for being an exciting fighter and has become a fan favorite in the Bahamas and beyond. Mackey’s success has been built on hard work and dedication.
He has trained rigorously for many years, honing his skills and refining his technique. He is also a dedicated family man, with his wife and two children often accompanying him to his fights. Overall, Jermain “Choo Choo” Mackey is a talented and respected boxer.
He has a long list of titles and accomplishments and is a Caribbean boxing legend. He is an inspiration to many and has become an important figure in the Bahamian sporting landscape.
12. Steve Larrimore
Steve Larrimore is a Bahamian former professional boxer who had a long and illustrious career in the ring that began in 1984 and ended in 2001.
As an amateur, he was one of the top fighters in the Caribbean and competed in a number of major events, including the 1979 Pan American Games, the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games, and the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Larrimore won a bronze medal in the latter competition.
In his professional career, Larrimore had a successful run that saw him win several regional titles. He is best remembered for his fight with then-undefeated world champion Roy Jones Jr., in which he lost a close decision.
However, he gained much respect for his performance that night, as he held his own against one of the best fighters in the world.
Larrimore was inducted into the Bahamas Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 for his accomplishments in the ring, and his legacy lives on today in his home country.
He is still looked upon as a symbol of the country’s proud boxing tradition and is held in high esteem by many of its citizens.
13. Kimbo Slice
Kevin Ferguson, more famously known as Kimbo Slice, was a man of many talents. He was a Bahamian mixed martial artist, professional boxer, bare-knuckle boxer, and actor. His fame came from his involvement in mutual combat street fight videos that were widely shared online.
This earned him the title of “The King of the Web Brawlers” from Rolling Stone magazine. Slice began his career as a bare-knuckle boxer, taking part in a number of underground fights which were filmed and spread online.
His fights were extremely popular and he quickly gained a reputation as a supremely tough fighter. He eventually went on to become a professional boxer and mixed martial artist, competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
He was also an actor, appearing in films such as The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption. Kimbo Slice was an incredibly successful fighter, both in the ring and online.
His involvement in underground fighting gave him a unique reputation and earned him the title of King of the Web Brawlers from Rolling Stone.
He was a man of many talents, and he will be remembered for his incredible fighting ability and his unique presence in the world of combat sports.
Conclusion
The best boxing players in the Bahamas have earned their place in the top ranks of the sport. These athletes have demonstrated extraordinary skill, technique, and determination to reach the heights of success in their respective divisions.
With the rise of the sport in the Bahamas, more and more young athletes are showing an interest in boxing and many of them have the potential to become future champions.
