By DAHALIA SMITH, NG Sports Reporter, dahalia@nasguard.com

For the first time in 20 years, a Bahamian boxer has qualified to fight in the world's greatest sports spectacle, the Olympic Games.

Boxing welterweight Taureano Johnson, 24, earned himself an opportunity to fight for The Bahamas at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and he could do so under National Boxing Head Coach Andre Seymour, the last Bahamian Olympian in boxing, when he competed at the 1988 Seoul, South Korean Games.

Johnson attained his life long dream of qualifying for the Olympics Tuesday night after outclassing Omar Moreno by a score of 23-6 in the semifinals of the 2nd International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) Olympic Regional Qualifying Tournament, currently being held in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

With the semifinal victory, Johnson moved onto the gold medal match which was set for last night, against the Dominican Republic's Gilbert Castillo. However, the result was unavailable up to press time. According to coach Seymour, when Johnson fought Castillo last year, he stopped him in the second or third round. On Monday night, Johnson defeated Brazilian and Pan American Games Champion Pedro Lima, by a score of 10-6, in the quarterfinals.

"Taureano was in command of the fight from the 'get go'. After the first round, the score was tied at one point apiece. From then on, Taureano went on a boxing spree and just out-boxed him. He basically gave Moreno a boxing lesson. For the most part, Taureano displayed Olympic medal caliber fighting," said Seymour. "Right now everything is going good for him. What is also special about the win is that this is the farthest that Taureano has made it in all of his Olympic trials and his career. At the last Olympic trials in 2004, Taureano lost in the quarterfinals," added Seymour.

Although the two finalists automatically qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, national coach Seymour said Johnson is focused on qualifying with a gold medal.

"Taureano defeated Gilbert before, last year right in his hometown at the Independence Cup. Right now, team Bahamas is going for the gold. This is a thrill for us right now because it has been such a long time since a Bahamian participated at the Olympics - 20 years is a long time not to have a Bahamian compete at the Olympics in boxing," said Seymour. "I was the last person to box at the Olympics back in 1988 when I made it to the quarterfinals, so to have one of my protégés make it to the Olympics, is like being given a second chance at excelling at the Olympics. Since I began coaching, it has always been my goal to help get a boxer back to the Olympics. Going back to the Olympics as a coach makes it even more special.

"I have coached at the World, Pan American and many other international events. This will be the highest level that I will be coaching at. When Taureano goes to the Olympics he will follow the same format where he will have to face whoever is in his draw. This time around, however, he will be facing boxers from all around the world. Nonetheless, I know Taureano has what it takes to perform well in Beijing," added Seymour.