New boxing boss seeks vibrancy, new heights
FORTY-one-year-old businessman Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones assumed the reins as president of the Jamaica Boxing Board from Tom Tavares-Finson, who did not seek re-election, on Thursday, following the boards’ Annual General Meeting at the office of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF).
Jones, who has inherited a vibrant and active boxing scene, says he intends to maintain and try to improve on what has been handed down to him, over the next two years.
His team will comprise Alexander Johnson, first vice-president; Derek Robinson, second vice-president; Leroy Brown, general secretary; Doreen Brown, assistant general secretary; Alastair Macbeath, treasurer and Keith Brown, Wallace Campbell, Kingsley Goodison, Justin Robinson, Sonia Jackson and Luke Irons as board members.
Jones says the resurgence boxing has experienced in recent times is a testament to the hard work put in by the previous administration, and he intends to carry on the vision set by his predecessor.
“The (present) team was a part of the last administration, so they have been a part of the whole rebirth of boxing, which has been coming before I came on board three years ago.
“But what I was fortunate to have been a part of was being affiliated with the past president Tom Tavares-Finson, who mentored me along the way, along with other board members.
“So during that time, my vice-president Alexander Johnson was also a member of the board, but that was all a part of the development process which has led to what you see now,” he related.
“The handing over is supposed to be a part of the vision that started already and we will continue it as we hope to get to the point where we were back in the ’70s,” he told the Sunday Observer.
‘Bomber’, as he is commonly called by his peers, believes the board is on the right track, but said he will not be able to fully disclose his plans until they assemble for their first meeting some time in early June.
However, he vowed to try and promote more professional bouts locally.
“Boxing is about amateur and professional, so I would not be doing my part if there were no professional fights taking place, but we want our amateur boxers to be bred locally and to have for them rampant activities, so they can train and compete and get to that level where Nicholas (Walters) is,” he said.
Welterweight Walters, currently ranked sixth in the world, will highlight the biggest professional fight on local soil in years when he faces Mexican Argel Salina on June 6.
“We want to have boxers that are honed here and then take their skills to an international level,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said they will continue to assist the local gyms by donating a percentage of the various cards that are hosted locally.
However Jones, who declared himself first and foremost a fan of boxing, said he has watched the sport all his life and so understands what individuals want to see.
“The thing about the board is that I’m around people who believe in team work… who are credible, intelligent, driven people. We’ll work together and I’ll learn from them and we’ll form our goal and work together to achieve it,” he said.
He says the biggest challenge facing the board is funding, although he welcomes the support of corporate Jamaica in the Contender Series.