SPORTS SECTION E
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016
BAHAMAS JUDO
Neighbourhood Heroes, Page 2
‘Kimbo Slice’ dead at 42
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
F
rom Step Street, Fox Hill, to Miami, Florida, Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson emerged as one of the most popular mixed martial artists (MMA). He died on Monday at the age of 42 at a hospital in Margate, Florida, near his home, Coral Springs Police Sergeant Carla Kmiotek said. His longtime manager Mike Imber confirmed his death, which was still unclear. Sgt Kmiotek said there is no active police investigation and no foul play is suspected. Ferguson, a block-of-granite build, shaved head and bushy beard, was a strip club bouncer and bodyguard who began competing in unsanctioned street fights in 2003. He had an infectious smile that was highlighted by his gold teeth. As a result of modern technology, Ferguson became an instant success through videos and online presentations of his raw punching power and his distinctive, intimidating appearance. Slice drew worldwide recognition as he was featured in the
REST IN PEACE: Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson died on Monday at a hospital in Margate, Florida, near his home, Coral Springs Police Sergeant Carla Kmiotek said. He was 42. His long time manager Mike Imber confirmed his death, which was still unclear. Sgt Kmiotek said there is no active police investigation, and no foul play is suspected.
return of MMA last year after a five-year absence. During that fight, Slice defeated Dhafir “Dada 5000” Harris in a third-round knockout in February at Bellator 149 in Houston, but the result was overturned after Slice tested positive for steroid use. “We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice,” said Scott Coker, the CEO of Bellator. “One of the most popular MMA fighters ever, Kimbo was a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport. Outside of the cage he was a friendly, gentle giant and a devoted family man. His loss leaves us all with extremely heavy hearts.” He was scheduled to headline the Bellator 158 show in London next month in a bout against James Thompson. Slice was the star of the first MMA show broadcast on network television, beating Thompson by third-round knockout in May 2008 on CBS with the defunct EliteXC promotion. With Ferguson and pioneering featherweight Gina Carano as the top attractions, EliteXC’s two CBS shows drew big television ratings and
SEE PAGE 8
‘He was a people’s person...boxing has lost a great legend’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ALL around the world he was known as the greatest boxer of all time. But to Arthur Clarke and Pat ‘the Centreville Assassin’ Strachan, Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest humanitarians they have ever met. Ali, the most significant and celebrated sports figure of the 20th century, died on June 3 at the age of 74, suffering from Parkinson’s disease. He was known for his famous quote: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” as he conquered his heavyweight opponent. As one of the greatest Bahamian boxers, Clarke fought as a super lightweight and was listed, along with Strachan, to fight on the famous Drama in Bahama on Friday, December 11, 1981 when Ali fought Trevor Berbick at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. “I first met Ali in 1978 in the Fifth Street Gym. He was always a gentleman,” Clarke said. “He was a people’s person. I think boxing has lost a great legend.” Out of all the boxers he met during his time, Clarke said Ali and Roberto Duran were the two of the most humble world champi-
ons he encountered. “I remember when Roberto Duran was a world champion in 1978 when he was in the Fifth Street Gym,” Clarke said. “He was skipping in front of the mirror and although he didn’t speak English that well, he saw when I slipped down and he helped me up and told me to keep going. “Ali was a humble individual as well. Ali and I used to talk. I spoke to him quite often. I can’t remember the last time I saw him. I think it was in the late 1980s when I fought a fellow called Choo Choo Brown in Houston, Texas. I lost. That was the last time I saw him.” During the 1970s, Clarke said he and Ali had a number of encounters as they met mostly at the Fifth Street Gym in Miami. “When he was training for Leon Spinks, that was the first time I really got to talk to him,” Clarke said. “He was a cool brother. That’s all I could say about him. I can’t say anything bad about him because I really don’t know anything bad about him.” As a result of the Drama in Bahama coming to the Bahamas, Clarke said he and Pat ‘the Centreville Assassin’ Strachan got an invi-
MUHAMMAD ALI
ARTHUR CLARKE
PAT STRACHAN
tation to fight on the card. However, Clarke said he withdrew because the promoters wanted him to be in the walk-out bout, which came after the main event. Clarke, the first Bahamian to fight in a main event bout on ESPN, said the promoters refused to put him on the fight on the undercard and they didn’t want to put him for the walk-out bout after the fight, so he refused to accept the fight. “It wasn’t just about the money,” Clarke recalled. “I wanted the position. Pat Strachan and I were invited to fight, but we felt that at least one of us should have
gotten to fight before Ali. That’s the reason why I pulled out.” Clarke, who was born on April 1, 1958, said at the age of 58, he still doesn’t regret the opportunity to appear on the Drama in Bahama. But he said the memories that he holds of Ali will linger in his mind for the rest of his life. Strachan, who turned 56 on May 19, said because of a miscommunication of the scheduling, he didn’t fight on the card as well. But he said he was grateful to have been afforded the opportunity to meet Ali.
“He was in my opinion, the greatest boxer of all time,” said Strachan, the Bahamian cruiserweight champion. “But I think his legacy will live on longer for what he stood for outside of the ring than his boxing legacy. “A TV commentator noted that Ali was bigger than boxing. When you look at the impact that Ali had on the world, he was bigger than boxing. He was a peacemaker and he stood up for what he believed in and you had to respect him for that.” Strachan said he remembered how Ali stood up
against the US government when they wanted him to fight in the war and he refused to go, was sentenced to go to jail, but it was eventually overturned. “Tiger Woods was probably the greatest golfer in all of history, but you don’t know what he stands for and how he feels about social issues,” Strachan said. “Michael Jordan was also the greatest basketball player, but you don’t know what he stands for. “But I admired Ali because he stood for something. I think that is a true mark of a man when he stood up for something. Ali was poetry in motion. Could you imagine if Ali was in his prime today, the amount of money he would have made? He was just great for boxing and he will be greatly missed.” When Ali fought, Strachan said it was an event and everybody knew about it. It was something special. Although he met Ali briefly when he was training at the La Caberet Theatre, Strachan will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his 12-round unanimous decision over Matthew Saad Muhammad at the Poinciana Arena on January 30, 1987. It was the biggest fight of Strachan’s career.
Justin Lunn: ‘I just want to get my breakthrough’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ALTHOUGH he has not allowed his disability in his right arm to get the best of him, Justin Lunn has been hampered by his performance on the tennis court and he’s just waiting to get his breakthrough. Having played for more than six years on the circuit, Lunn said his experience has not been what he expected, but now that he has severed ties with his long-time coach in
CAVALIERS VS. WARRIORS GAME 3 @ 9PM TONIGHT SEE PAGE 5
Florida, he’s heading to France and Spain with Jodi Turnquest next week for a new lease on life. “I got sick a couple days before this tournament, so I really couldn’t perform,” said Lunn about his disappointing performance at the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s trials for the Davis Cup men’s team over the weekend. “So, I lost to Marvin Rolle. I wasn’t feeling too good and I didn’t get to play my second match because my stomach was bothering me. Hopefully I can get over it because I go to France.” As he prepares to make another run at improving on his career on the international scene, Lunn said he has to concentrate a little more on his footwork, but his fitness level is right where he wants it to be. “I want to try to get more points going so that I can compete in more tournaments,” he said. “It’s tough playing in the US because you get to play different levels of players. You get to play guys who have been on the circuit for a long time and those who are just getting started. “But it’s good because everybody’s game is different on the tour. So you just have to adjust yourself and you push through them and give them a run for their money.”
At this point in his career, “When you’re not in that Lunn said he should have category, you find yourself already accumulated some paying more money than ATP points, which would you make to play in a tourenable him to get into the nament. You don’t get any qualifying round of some of breaks or anything. You just the major tournaments. have to keep playing in or“My old coach had me in der for you to get points to Florida for a long time and move up. If you don’t play, that’s the toughest place to you lose those points you play,” he said. “You have at would have gotten.” least 128 players playing in And that’s just the Futhe tournament. Out of that tures tournament, which 128, 120 players are really is considered the begingood. So that was a tough ner’s level. From Futures, deal for me.” the players move onto the Lunn, who turns 25 on Satelitte Tournaments and June 18, said he’s looking then it’s the ATP Tournaforward to making the adments where the money is justment to really travelling made. Now as a free agent, JUSTIN LUNN and competing in tournaLunn said he’s even lookments around the world in ing at the possibility of gohis quest to get his breakthrough. ing to Africa to play in their tournaments “This is probably the hardest sport ever where he gets a chance to play directly in to play. If I can go back, I probably would the main draw. “I just want to get my breakplay baseball,” he said. “In order for you through,” Lunn said. “I want to be able to to make a successful life, you have to be represent the Bahamas at a higher level like top 100. As a top 100 player, you get paid Mark Knowles and Roger Smith did. I’m atleast $80,000 a tournament for the rest of still dreaming. I’m just waiting on my time. your life. Dreams do come true.”