By FRED STURRUP, NG Associate Editor, frederick@nasguard.com, frobertsturrup@gmail.com

The Bahamas Boxing Commission has announced the sanctioning of the May 24 British Commonwealth Super Middleweight Championship fight between our very own Jermaine Mackey and Irish Brian MaGee. It's an excellent opportunity for Mackey and comes at a time when his career is due for a rebound. Quite frankly, although Mackey has scored four quality wins by stoppage in his last seven fights, he has lost the other three.

A current look at Box Rec, considered in many circles the boxing results bible, shows Mackey officially at 15-3 with 12 knockouts, but his last two listed outings are defeats. Last August, he traveled to Germany and lost an eight-round decision to Karo Murat. Reginald Taylor is listed as the victor last November over Mackey by decision in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. In 2006, he lost his first fight to Haitian/Canadien Jean Pascal.

In the four fights between defeats, he knocked out Jamaican Anthony Osborne, closed out the really tough Puerto Rican Anibal Acevedo, got a TKO against American Julius Fogle and won by a second round technical knockout over Trinidadian Kirt Sinnette. In Brian MaGee, a rugged Irishman who has been an International Boxing Organization (IBO) Champion, Mackey will have to have his 'A' game going. At 28, and with less than 20 fights, he is in an ideal situation to make a big impact on the division. It's almost a certainty that if he beats MaGee and adds the Commonwealth crown to his resume, he would be in line for a shot at one of the world titles (World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization or the IBO).

The fight will also be a test to see whether he is still supremely confident in the ring. MaGee is replacing Charles Adamu of Ghana who was injured recently and was unable to continue training. Adamu, however, has been designated by the Commonwealth Boxing Council as the demand challenger to meet the winner between Mackey and MaGee. In MaGee, Mackey will be up against a fighter who has had almost 40 fights (30-3), but to make it to the top, those are some of the hurdles to be negotiated.

This is the big opportunity he has been waiting for. Will he seize the moment?

To beat an in-shape MaGee, he must be smart. It will be a huge mistake for Mackey to trade punches often with the Irish fighter. He would be wise to box a lot and use his rangy style to frustrate MaGee while all along, pilling up points. Mackey has what it takes to stop MaGee, but he must pick his spots and avoid clinches. The way to fight MaGee would be to keep him at arms length and dictate the fight. Mackey has always seemed to have the capacity, but, his most recent showings in the ring have a bit of a question mark against him.

One ought to be cognizant though that after losing to Pascal who was 14-0 at the time, he beat Osborne, then had the tough six rounds with Acevedo before taking on two other fighters with perfect records (Fogle and Sinnette). He stopped them both. He has shown once before in his career that he could come back from a loss.

Mackey has to do so again, with a lot on the line this time. Of his former opponents, only Pascal is on MaGee's level in my view. Mackey will be fighting in his own backyard however. He will be hearing Bahamians rooting for him.

Locals would do well to make sure they put May 24 and the Kendal Isaacs Gym on their schedule. The fight is shaping up to be a sports classic. The MaGee camp was quick to step forward once it became known that Adamu was injured and they got the inside track. The Commonwealth Council communicated the decision to accept MaGee as the replacement and the fight was on. Now, Mackey has an opportunity to join the legendary Gomeo Brennen, Ray Minus Jr. and Steve Larrimore as Commonwealth champions.

His chances are good. Despite MaGee's experience and former world championship status, Mackey, unless he has slipped badly, can win. He has the tools to do it. His long jab if pushed out with authority should be able keep MaGee off stride. Then, there is that wicked right hook of Mackey's, the one that sent Acevedo to the canvas. The southpaw Mackey also packs a solid wallop with his left as well.

Yes, Mackey can win. Will he?

The answer will come on Saturday, May 24.

Best wishes Jermaine!