By PERRY SCAVELLA

NG Sports Reporter

Bahamian international heavyweight boxer Sherman "Tank" Williams is urging the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture "to seriously review" his written recommendations concerning the establishment of a "Boxing Commission Act" that could result in international boxing telecasts in The Bahamas.

In an interview, Williams said several international television networks have already expressed interest in broadcasting some of his boxing matches from The Bahamas.

"I've had three fights on Fox Network and I had a fight on the Sunshine Network, and they are major prime time sports networks. Both networks have expressed interest in coming home and doing a fight from my home town because you know The Bahamas is still a place that fascinates everybody because of the sunshine, the beautiful seas and the sun," he said.

Taking part in the Heat Lion Heart Boxing Club's year-ending boxing show on Wednesday night as the ring announcer, Williams was excited about the number of children who had shown interest in boxing. He further pointed out the tremendous benefits that could be received if the Ministry would establish boxing with the proper foundations.

"They want to put on gloves, they want to get in the ring, and they want to fight and they want to know where the closest gym is. I really urge the Ministry to play close attention to boxing and don't underestimate boxing and don't think that it is not a mainstream sport," he said.

"In Europe they don't even watch (American) football and basketball but worldwide like soccer, boxing is recognised. There is no other title in the world bigger than boxing and soccer. We've got to come to that realisation and we've got to stop giving these boxing commissions and these boxing associations these peanuts."

Bahamians involved in boxing clubs were potential competitors in the near future, he said.

Citing community boxing shows that are hosted by local boxing clubs he further appealed to the government to provide some endorsement because of the positive and productive entertainment the shows have for the country.

Meanwhile Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation president Wellington Miller said Thursday that a Boxing Act would be a welcome addition to boxers in the country. With the Bahamas' new Boxing Commission executives elected, he further added that he expected that some progress to establish an Act would be made.

"By next year I think that they (Boxing Commission) will be very active," he said. "We have some great amateurs, whom I feel will be turning pros soon, so we have to develop that part of it. The amateur part of it is very successful. This year alone we spent over $100,000 on our programme the Amateur Boxing Federation, and our programme is very, very active. Once the amateur part gets active (what) we only need now is to get the professional part active."

Heading the Boxing Commission is Alvin Sargent.